Dog fatal poisoning from Brunfelsia calcyina shrub berries

Abstract

Brunfelsia calcyina var. floribunda is an ornamental evergreen shrub found in the United States. A diagnosis of the fatal intoxication of a canine due to consumption of plant material (primarily berries) was made. The significant features of the clinical constellation were similar to those seen with substances interfering with the neurotransmission process, such as lathyrus or strychnine. Necropsy findings on the canine were unrevealing. Toxicologic studies performed on mice and rats with ground shrub material demonstrated that all parts of this plant are toxic, but unequally so. All plant preparations produced signs similar to those of a spinal convulsant. There were no distinguishing gross pathologic or histopathologic findings associated with the toxicoses induced in the laboratory animals with preparations from this plant. The toxic principles from this shrub are water soluble and very stable. The ability of aqueous extracts stored at 4 C to produce the clinical syndrome and subsequent lethality remained unchanged over a period of 4 months. Exposures are not always fatal. They most often occur in the canine and there is a significant hazard for small children.