title: Toxicity of Jatropha curcas in sheep and goats.
abstract: The sequential development of the clinical signs and lesions in the organs of desert sheep and Nubian goats dosed with Jatropha curcas seeds at 0.05, 0.5 and 1 g/kg/day was studied. Diarrhoea, reduced water consumption, dehydration, sunken eyes, inappetence and loss in condition were the important signs of J curcas poisoning in sheep and goats. The main pathological changes were haemorrhage in the rumen, reticulum, lungs, kidneys and heart, catarrhal and/or haemorrhagic enteritis, hepatic fatty change, pulmonary congestion and oedema and straw-coloured fluid in serous cavities. An increase in the concentrations of AST, ammonia, potassium and sodium and a decrease in total protein and calcium were detected in the serum. Haematological changes were haemoconcentration and leucocytosis.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006041:Goats; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010939:Plant Poisoning / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012417:Rumen / Q000473:pathology; D012639:Seeds; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology