Photosensitizing effects of Cymopterus watsonii and Cymopterus longipes in chickens and turkey poults.
Two-week-old straight-run white broiler chicks and 2-week-old straight-run white turkey poults were fed seed or whole plants Cymopterus watsonii or seed of Cymopterus longipes at 0.4, 0.8, and 1.6% of body weight, and then placed in sunlight for 5 hours each day for 7 days. All plant material produced moderate to severe photosensitivity in chicks. Toxic signs included photophobia; red discoloration of beak, comb, and feet; loss of feathers in the periorbital area; dried serous fluid on comb and edge of beak; keratoconjunctivitis; and multiple lesions on feet and legs. Turkey poults showed a syndrome similar to that of chicks. Mortality was particularly high in turkeys fed C. longipes seed. Toxic signs in turkeys 6 weeks after treatment included tremors in the legs; upturning and shortening of the upper beak; and shortening disfigurement, and gangrene of the toes. Two phototoxic furocoumarins, oxypeucedanin and isoimperitorin, were isolated from C. longipes seed. Either compound, administered orally, produced photosensitivity in 2-week-old chicks.
D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D003374:Coumarins / Q000032:analysis; D005663:Furans / Q000032:analysis; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010939:Plant Poisoning / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012639:Seeds / Q000032:analysis; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D014422:Turkeys
D003374:Coumarins; D005663:Furans