Experimental poisoning of cattle by pods of the “ faveira “ three (Dimorphandra mollisBenth.)

Abstract

Studies concerning the toxicity for cattle of the pods of the "faveira" tree (Dimorphandra mollis Benth.) were made. The studies consisted in feeding the pods, collected in the areas of Uberaba and Francisco Dumont, Minas Gerais, Brazil, to 12 bovines accompanied by clinical observations, followed by post-mortem examinations in the five cases of death and performing histopathological studies of the organs collected from these animals. The "faveira" tree pods were shown to be poisonous for cattle in these experiments, causing severe distress and death, when at least 25 g/kg of body weight were eaten by the animals at one time. The same or larger amounts when subdivided into ten equal daily doses, did not cause any symptoms of poisoning. The albumin content of the urine of Bovine 2195, which did not have other symptoms of poisoning, indicates that the pods are toxic to cattle in the proportion of approximately 10 g/kg of body weight. Albumin was found for some time in the urine of Bovine 2193 which had only a slight loss of appetite. This points to severe kidney lesion, which results from the larger amount of pods as the animal ingested 20 g/kg. Clinical features of the experimental poisoning include intestinal symptoms, the faeces containing mucous and coagulated blood in form of streaks or clumps. The most important post-mortem finding were hemorrhages in the digestive tract and small and distinct hyperemic foci in the kidneys. Histopathological studies revealed additionally in all cases kidney lesions, which consisted in coagulative necrosis of the proximal convoluted tubules and the presence of hyaline and cellular casts in other portions of the uriniferous tubules. The authors discuss the natural occurrence of poisoning by "faveira" tree pods in the field, and indicate prophylactic measures.