Intoxicação experimental por Cestrum laevigatum em bubalinos (Bubalus bubalis)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the toxicity of Cestrum laevigatum for buffalos and characterize the clinical and pathological intoxication. Were used four Murrah buffaloes divided into two groups. Group 1 (buffalo 1 and 2) received 20g/kg of dried leaves of Cestrum laevigatum fed orally, whereas group 2 (buffalo 3 and 4) received 40g/kg. Buffalo 1 (group 1) showed mild clinical signs, characterized by a reduction of ruminal movements and recovered 60 hours after onset of clinical symptoms. Buffalo 2 (group 1) showed no signs. Buffaloes 3 and 4 (Group 2) showed the first signs 26h05min and 37h22min after the end of the administration, respectively. Clinical signs of intoxication were lethargy, anorexia, decrease or absence of ruminal movements, drooling, difficulty breathing, staggering gait, dysmetria, excitement, aggression, constipation, with stools containing mucus and blood, groans, dry nose, drowsiness, paddling movements and death in 44h11min (buffalo 3) and 60h39min (buffalo 4) after administration of the plant. At necropsy, Buffalo 3 revealed capsular and cut surface of liver brownish orange, mild edema of the gallbladder wall, left ventricular endocardium with extensive haematomas and endocardium of the right ventricle with a few petechiae, abomasum mucosa slightly reddish; contents abomasum slightly dry, large intestine with little content slightly dry and surrounded by mucus. In Buffalo 4 capsular and cut surface of liver colored orange, with a clear aspect of nutmeg , mild edema of gallbladder wall, mild splenomegaly, slightly reddish mucosa of the abomasum, small intestine content catarrhal and mucous, and slightly congested meninges. Histologically, the liver of both animals demonstrated marked coagulation and necrosis of hepatocytes in central and intermediate lobular zones and vacuolization of hepatocytes close to the areas of necrosis.