Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Confirmed Datura poisoning in a horse most probably due to D. ferox in contaminated tef hay.
- Journal:
- Journal of the South African Veterinary Association
- Year:
- 2006
- Authors:
- Gerber, R et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Animal Sciences
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
In a case involving two mares from a group of 23, both developed colic after eating tef hay that was contaminated with a plant called Datura ferox, which can be toxic. The first mare did not respond to standard treatment and had to be euthanized after surgery for severe intestinal issues. The second mare had milder symptoms, responded well to pain relief, and recovered without complications. During the first two days of poisoning, this mare showed dilated pupils, and for a week afterward, her pupils remained somewhat dilated. Tests confirmed the presence of a toxic substance called scopolamine in her urine for three days, supporting the diagnosis of Datura poisoning. Overall, while one mare did not survive, the other made a full recovery.
Abstract
Two out of a group of 23 mares exposed to tef hay contaminated with Datura ferox (and possibly D. stramonium) developed colic. The 1st animal was unresponsive to conservative treatment, underwent surgery for severe intestinal atony and had to be euthanased. The 2nd was less seriously affected, responded well to analgesics and made an uneventful recovery. This horse exhibited marked mydriasis on the first 2 days of being poisoned and showed protracted, milder mydriasis for a further 7 days. Scopolamine was chemically confirmed in urine from this horse for 3 days following the colic attack, while atropine could just be detected for 2 days. Scopolamine was also the main tropane alkaloid found in the contaminating plant material, confirming that this had most probably been a case of D. ferox poisoning. Although Datura intoxication of horses from contaminated hay was suspected previously, this is the 1st case where the intoxication could be confirmed by urine analysis for tropane alkaloids. Extraction and detection methods for atropine and scopolamine in urine are described employing enzymatic hydrolysis followed by liquid-liquid extraction and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS).
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17120625/