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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Alpaca plant poisonings: nitrate-nitrite and possible cyanide.

Journal:
Australian veterinary journal
Year:
2009
Authors:
McKenzie, Ra et al.
Affiliation:
Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries Queensland · Australia

Abstract

Nitrate-nitrite poisoning killed four adult alpacas and induced the abortion of a full-term fetus after access to oaten hay (Avena sativa) containing 3.2% KNO(3) equivalent in dry matter. Necropsy findings were cyanosis, dark-coloured blood, and pulmonary congestion and oedema. Aqueous humour from two adults contained 25 mg NO(3)/L and that from the fetus contained 10 mg NO(3)/L. Cyanide poisoning possibly killed two adult wether alpacas that ate a garden-cultivated variety of Osteospermum ecklonis (South African daisy, bietou) with a cyanide potential of 6800 mg HCN/kg dry matter.

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Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19245625/