Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Spartium junceum poisoning causing seizures in sheep
By Ariano, Andrea et al.·Published in Veterinaria italiana·2019·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Spartium junceum L. poisoning in small ruminants.
- Species:
- sheep
Plain-English summary
A flock of 20 sheep in Italy experienced severe neurological issues after eating a toxic plant called Spartium junceum, commonly known as broom. The sheep showed symptoms like convulsions, muscle paralysis, dilated pupils, tremors, rapid heart rate, and diarrhea. Unfortunately, two sheep died as their condition worsened. After removing the toxic plant from their diet, the remaining sheep fully recovered, confirming that the plant was the cause of their illness.
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Abstract
An outbreak of neurological disorders in a flock of 20 sheep coming from a rural farm in Civitella Roveto, Italy, occurred in winter 2015. All the animals showed tonic-clonic convulsions followed by muscle paralysis associated with dilated pupils, tremor, tachycardia, tachypnea and diarrhea. The presence of bundles of dry broom of Spartium junceum L. in the feed, eaten by the animals supported the hypothesis of plant intoxication. Two animals died after worsening of clinical signs. The anatomopathological findings and the laboratory results ruled out viral or bacterial infections or accidental exposure to other toxics. Phytochemical study showed the presence of large amount of cytisine, a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist, in all parts of the plant eaten by the animals. Clinical and pathological findings, the complete remission of clinical signs after the exclusion of dry broom from the diet, together with the results of phytochemical analyses results corroborated the hypothesis of S. junceum L. intoxication.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31955560/