Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Sudden tremors and trouble walking in pet pigs from Pieris plant
By Pischon, Hannah et al.·Published in Veterinary pathology·2018·1 Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Grayanotoxin I Intoxication in Pet Pigs.
- Species:
- pig
Plain-English summary
Two miniature pet pigs became seriously ill after eating leaves from a plant called Pieris japonica, which contains a toxin known as grayanotoxin I. The pigs showed symptoms like pale gums, rapid heart and breathing rates, excessive drooling, shaking, and difficulty standing, eventually lying on their sides. A thorough examination confirmed the presence of the toxic plant in their stomachs and tissues. It's important for pet owners to be aware that certain plants can be harmful to pigs, and if you suspect your pig has ingested something dangerous, seek veterinary help immediately.
People also search for: pig eating toxic plants · symptoms of pig poisoning · grayanotoxin in pigs · Pieris japonica toxicity in pigs
Abstract
Contaminated honey is a common cause of grayanotoxin intoxication in humans. Intoxication of animals, especially cattle, is usually due to ingestion of plants of the Ericaceae family, such as Rhododendron. Here, we report the ingestion of Pieris japonica as the cause of grayanotoxin I intoxication in 2 miniature pigs that were kept as pets. The pigs showed sudden onset of pale oral mucosa, tachycardia, tachypnea, hypersalivation, tremor, and ataxia that progressed to lateral recumbency. The pathological examination of one pig revealed no specific indications for intoxication except for the finding of plant material of Pieris japonica in the intestine. Grayanotoxin I was identified in the ingested plant, gastric content, blood, liver, bile, kidney, urine, lung, and skeletal muscle via HPLC-MS/MS. Grayanotoxin I should be considered as a differential etiological diagnosis in pigs with unspecific signs and discovery of ingested plant material as the only indication in the pathologic examination.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30071802/