Senecio ovatus poisoning in a horse – A case report.
Abstract: This study describes a case of poisoning by pyrrolizidine alkaloids in a horse. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first confirmed case of Senecio ovatus poisoning. A six-year-old 450-kg Irish cob mare was presented to the Equine Clinic of the University of Veterinary Sciences Brno (Czechia) with symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy, which progressively worsened with time despite intensive therapy and led to euthanasia. A complex diagnostic and therapeutic approach including the post-mortem patoanatomical and histopathological examination is described here. Regarding the histopathology of the liver, there was necrosis with haemorrhage, fatty changes and inflammation. A later inspection of the grazing area revealed the presence of Senecio ovatus (wood ragwort). A sensitive chromatographic method was used to determine the pyrrolizidine alkaloids and their metabolites in the plasma and the liver. In both of the samples, metabolites of pyrrolizidine alkaloids were detected. Although pyrrolizidine alkaloid poisoning was proven, the histopathological findings typical for this disease were absent. It is clear from our case that the histopathology in cases of poisoning by pyrrolizidine alkaloids may not always be conclusive.
Copyright: © 2024 Kopecka et al.
Publication Date: 2024-09-22 PubMed ID: 39474359PubMed Central: PMC11517866DOI: 10.17221/37/2024-VETMEDGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research article talks about a unique incident of poisoning in a horse due to pyrrolizidine alkaloids, a type of toxin present in certain plants, documenting the first confirmed case of such poisoning and the subsequent diagnostic and therapeutic approach used.
About the Case
- The horse, a six-year-old 450-kg Irish cob mare, was brought to the Equine Clinic of the University of Veterinary Sciences Brno in Czechia displaying signs of hepatic encephalopathy, a condition characterised by brain damage and dysfunction due to liver disease.
- Despite intensive therapy, the horse’s condition did not improve and it had to be euthanised.
Diagnostic Approach and Findings
- The researchers carried out a comprehensive diagnosis and therapeutic strategy, incorporating post-mortem anatomical and histopathological evaluations.
- During the histopathological examination of the horse’s liver, necrosis (cellular death), haemorrhage (bleeding), fatty changes, and inflammation were observed.
- After observing the environment where the horse used to graze, the team discovered the presence of wood ragwort, a plant known to contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, suggesting the possible source of the toxins.
Detection of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids
- The team used a sensitive chromatographic method to assess the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids and their metabolites in the horse’s blood and liver.
- Both samples tested positive for the toxins, thereby confirming that the horse was poisoned by pyrrolizidine alkaloids.
Unique Findings and Learnings
- Even though the poisoning was confirmed, the telltale histopathological indicators usually associated with pyrrolizidine alkaloid poisoning were not found in this case.
- This indicates that histopathological results in instances of pyrrolizidine alkaloid poisoning might not always give a definitive answer, shedding light on the complex nature of such toxin diseases.
Cite This Article
APA
Kopecka A, Novotna T, Svobodova Z, Drabkova Z.
(2024).
Senecio ovatus poisoning in a horse – A case report.
Vet Med (Praha), 69(9), 329-336.
https://doi.org/10.17221/37/2024-VETMED Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.
- Department of Animal Protection and Welfare and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.
- Department of Animal Protection and Welfare and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.
- Equine Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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