title: Pyrrolizidine alkaloidosis of cattle associated with Senecio lautus.
abstract: Serious incidents of pyrrolizidine alkaloidosis of cattle in 10 herds exposed to the Australian native plant, Senecio lautus (Asteraceae), were seen in central Queensland during 1988-1992. The deaths of 226 cattle were recorded. A mean of 8% of cattle died in affected groups (range 2 to 58%). Sickness and deaths usually occurred some months after access to S lautus. Typically, affected cattle lost body condition to the point of emaciation before dying and had persistent diarrhoea. Some animals developed abnormal behaviour and died after a shorter illness. Liver specimens from affected cattle in all herds contained lesions consistent with pyrrolizidine alkaloidosis. Thin layer chromatography of extracts of blood and liver samples from cattle from 5 herds detected pyrrolic metabolites. The identity of these was confirmed by mass spectroscopy on samples from one herd. Unseasonal autumn and winter rain after a dry summer appeared to favour growth of S lautus at the expense of other pasture species. A subsequent dry period promoted consumption of S lautus and was followed by a cluster of poisoning incidents.
authors.affiliation: Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Emerald.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Noble
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crossley
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Pierce
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Debritz
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Morley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015994:Incidence; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D010939:Plant Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D011763:Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids / Q000506:poisoning*; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012674:Senecio
chemical_list: D011763:Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids