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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Logan, Utah » Poisonous Plant Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #332166
Title: Gastrolobium spp. poisoning in sheep: A case report

Author
item BUTLER, ROY - Department Of Food And Agriculture Western Australia
item TAI, SAMANTHA - Department Of Food And Agriculture Western Australia
item ALLEN, JEREMY - Department Of Food And Agriculture Western Australia
item Cook, Daniel
item Lee, Stephen

Submitted to: International Journal of Poisonous Plant Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/18/2016
Publication Date: 8/1/2017
Citation: Butler, R., Tai, S., Allen, J.G., Cook, D., Lee, S.T. 2017. Gastrolobium spp. poisoning in sheep: A case report. International Journal of Poisonous Plant Research. 4:68-71.

Interpretive Summary: This report describes a plant poisoning event in Western Australia causing the death of fifteen sheep. One of the poisoned sheep was necropsied and the pathology of the poisoned sheep is described. Monofluoroacetate was detected in rumen contents from the necropsied sheep. The case history, pathology observations, and detection of monofluoroacetate in the rumen contents support a diagnosis of monofluoroacetate intoxication. This is the first example of detection of monofluoroacetate in the rumen contents of an animal poisoned by a plant containing monofluoroacetate.

Technical Abstract: This report describes the history and investigation of a suspected plant poisoning event in Western Australia where fifteen sheep died. One of the poisoned sheep was necropsied and gross and microscopic pathology of the poisoned sheep is described. Monofluoroacetate was detected in rumen contents from the necropsied sheep. The case history, pathological changes, and detection of monofluoroacetate in the rumen contents support a diagnosis of monofluoroacetate intoxication. A review of the literature suggests this is the first example of detection of monofluoroacetate in the rumen contents of an animal poisoned by a plant containing monofluoroacetate.