Lathyrus hirsutus (Caley Pea) intoxication in a herd of horses.
Abstract: Caley Pea (Lathyrus hirsutus) is potentially toxic to horses, but large case series are not reported. Objective: To describe the clinical signs of horses intoxicated with Lathyrus hirsutus and speculate on the neuroanatomical lesion localization and pathogenesis based upon the observed clinical signs. Methods: Twenty-two of 25 horses ranging in age from 6 to 34 months were affected. Five affected horses were presented to the OSUCHVS for evaluation and treatment after having been attended at the ranch by a local veterinarian (ALA). An additional horse that had been euthanized was also presented for necropsy. Methods: A case series is presented. Diagnostic evaluation included: physical examination, complete blood count, serum biochemistry, CSF analysis, EMG, ERG, upper airway endoscopy, muscle biopsy, and serum vitamin E analysis. The grain ration consumed by the affected horses was analyzed for ionophores and cultured for fungi: the hay was examined for toxic plants. Results: Bermuda grass hay consumed by the horses contained large quantities of mature Lathyrus hirsutus. Acute clinical signs conform to earlier descriptions of Lathyrus hirsutus intoxication in cattle. Residual neurologic signs were characterized by incoordination in the rhythmicity of multiple gaits. Evidence of mild neurogenic muscle atrophy was recognized in 1 of 5 horses biopsied. Conclusions: Caley Pea intoxication may occur within days of seed pod consumption. The neurologic signs are unique and suggest involvement of the upper motor neuron system and regions of the spinal cord influencing voluntary motor movement. Drought conditions during plant growth may increase the risk of toxicosis.
Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Publication Date: 2015-01-16 PubMed ID: 25594329PubMed Central: PMC4858080DOI: 10.1111/jvim.12515Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research article explores the potential toxicity of Caley Pea (Lathyrus hirsutus) to horses, focusing on the observed clinical signs of intoxication and speculating on the related neurological lesion localization and pathogenesis.
Study Method & Sample
- The study involved a series of 25 cases, of which 22 horses, ranging from 6 to 34 months old, were affected by the intoxication.
- Of the affected horses, five were evaluated and treated at the OSUCHVS (woefully undefined in the text), after initial examination by a local veterinarian at their ranch. Additionally, a euthanized horse was also examined for further understanding.
Diagnostic Evaluations
- Diverse diagnostic methods were applied, covering physical examination, complete blood count, serum biochemistry, analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), electromyography (EMG), electroretinography (ERG), upper airway endoscopy, muscle biopsy, and serum vitamin E analysis.
- Additionally, the grain ration consumed by the horses was analyzed for ionophores (compounds that alter cell membranes) and cultured for fungi. Similarly, the hay fed to the horses was inspected for potentially toxic plants.
Findings
- The Bermuda grass hay consumed by the horses was found to contain significant amounts of mature Lathyrus hirsutus, implicating it as the source of the observed intoxication.
- The acute clinical signs of this intoxication in horses were found to be synonymous with previous findings from studies of Lathyrus hirsutus intoxication in cattle.
- The most noticeable remaining neurologic signs, post intoxication, were coordination difficulties in multiple gaits of the horses.
- Only one out of five horses exhibited mild neurogenic muscle atrophy according to the biopsy results.
Conclusions
- The study concludes that the consumption of Caley Pea could lead to intoxication in horses within days of ingestion.
- The unique neurologic signs suggest the intoxication impacts the upper motor neuron system and the regions of the spinal cord responsible for voluntary motor movement.
- Notably, the paper highlights that drought conditions during the growth of the plant could increase the risk of toxicosis.
Cite This Article
APA
Holbrook TC, Gilliam LL, Stein FP, Morgan SE, Avery AL, Confer AW, Panciera RJ.
(2015).
Lathyrus hirsutus (Caley Pea) intoxication in a herd of horses.
J Vet Intern Med, 29(1), 294-298.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.12515 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK.
MeSH Terms
- Aging
- Animal Feed / analysis
- Animals
- Dietary Supplements
- Female
- Food Contamination
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Lathyrus / chemistry
- Male
- Neurotoxicity Syndromes / drug therapy
- Neurotoxicity Syndromes / etiology
- Neurotoxicity Syndromes / pathology
- Neurotoxicity Syndromes / veterinary
- Plant Poisoning / drug therapy
- Plant Poisoning / etiology
- Plant Poisoning / pathology
- Plant Poisoning / veterinary
- Plants, Toxic / toxicity
- Vitamin E / administration & dosage
- Vitamin E / therapeutic use
References
This article includes 24 references
- Burrows GE, Tyrl RJ, eds. Lathyrus L In: Toxic Plants of North America, 2nd ed Ames, IA: Iowa State University Press; 2013:564–572.
- Barrow MV, Simpson CF, Miller EF. Lathyrism: A review. Q Rev Biol 1974;49:101–128.
- Roy DN. Toxic amino acids and proteins from lathyrus plants and other leguminous species: A literature review. Nutr Abstr Rev 1981;51:691–707.
- Woldeamanuel YW, Hassan A, Zenebe G. Neurolathyrism: Two ethiopian case reports and review of the literature. J Neurol 2012;259:1263–1268.
- Stockman R. Lathyrism. J Pharmocol Exp Therapeutics 1929;37:48–53.
- Greatorex JC. Some unusual cases of plant poisoning in animals. Vet Record 1966;78:725–727.
- Lippegaus K, Kahn B, Schoon HA. Neurolathyrismus bei zwei Pferden nach Verzehr von Samen der Stauden wiche (Lathyrus latifolius). Pferdeheilkunde 1992;8:181–186.
- Burrows GE. Suspected intoxication due to lathyrus. Vet Hum Toxicol 1993;35:262–263.
- Sugg RS, Simms BT, Baker KG. Studies of toxicity of wild winter peas (Lathyrus hirsutus) for cattle. Vet Med 1944;39:308–311.
- Rasmussen MA, Allison MJ. Flatpea intoxication in sheep and indications of ruminal adaptation. Vet Hum Toxicol 1993;35:123–126.
- Rowe LD, Ivie GW, DeLoach JR. The toxic effects of mature flatpea (Lathyrus sylvestris L cv lathoco) on sheep. Vet Hum Toxicol 1993;35:128–133.
- Enneking D. The nutritive value of grasspea (Lathyrus sativus) and allied species, their toxicity to animals and the role of malnutrition in neurolathrism. Food Chem Toxicol 2011;49:694–709.
- Jaio CJ, Jiang JL, Ke LM. Factors affecting β‐ODAP content in Lathyurus sativus and their possible physiologic mechanisms. Food Chem Toxicol 2011;49:543–549.
- Gramsbergen A. The Neurobiology of Locomotor Development. 2001:37–54.
- Guertin PA. Central pattern generator for locomotion: Anatomical, physiological, and pathophysiological considerations. Front Neurol 2013;3:1–15.
- Bell AE. Nonprotein amino acids of plants: Significance in medicine, nutrition and agriculture. J Agric Food Chem 2003;51:2854–2865.
- McKay GF, Lalich JJ, Schilling ED, Strong FM. A crystalline “lathyrus factor” from Lathyrus odoratus. Arch Biochem Biophys 1954;52:313–322.
- Bell EA. Associations of ninhydrin‐reacting compounds in the seeds of 49 species of Lathyrus. Biochem. J. 1962;83:225–229.
- Foster JG, Cress WD, Wright SF. Intracellular location of the neurotoxin 2,4, diaminobutyric acid in Lathyrus sylvestris L. leaf tissue. Plant Physiol 1987;83:900–904.
- Smith MO, George LW. Diseases of the nervous system. 2009:1036.
- Briggs CJ, Parreno N, Campbell CG. Phytochemical assessment of Lathyrus species for the neurotoxic agent, β‐N‐oxalyl‐L‐α, β‐diaminopropionic acid. Planta Med 1983;47:188–190.
- Kusama‐Eguchi K, Miyano T, Yamamoto M. New insights into the mechanism of neurolathyrism: L‐β‐ODAP triggers [Ca2+]i accumulation and cell death in primary motor neurons through transient receptor potential channels and metabotropic glutamate receptors. Food Chem Toxicol 2014;67:113–122.
- Nistri A, Konstantin O, Sharifullina E, Taccola G. Tuning and playing a motor rhythm: How metabotropic glutamate receptors orchestrate generation of motor patterns in the mammalian central nervous system. J Physiol 2006;572:323–334.
- Bell EA. Aminonitriles and amino acids not derived from proteins. 1973:153–169.
Citations
This article has been cited 0 times.Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
