title: Probable toxicosis in cattle in Israel caused by the oak Quercus calliprinos.
abstract: A probable outbreak of oak (Quercus calliprinos) toxicosis in a herd of beef cattle--heifers and first-calving cows--grazing in the Judean foothills of Israel is described. Toxicosis probably occurred because of the consumption of oak leaves and buds during a period of pasture scarcity without any feed supplementation. A progressive syndrome of wasting, dullness, anorexia, polyuria, nephrosis, constipation and recumbency, culminating in death, was seen. A high mortality rate of 83% (38/46 animals) was noted. The clinical-pathological findings revealed increases in blood urea, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and inorganic phosphorus. Decreases were found in alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total serum protein, albumin (ALB), triglyceride (TG), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na) and chloride (CI). The main pathological findings were severe nephrosis, chronic interstitial nephritis, and occasional intestinal ulceration. On the basis of epidemiology, clinical signs, clinical-pathological and pathological findings and renal histology, a tentative diagnosis of oak toxicosis was made.
authors.affiliation: Hachaklait Gedera, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yeruham
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Avidar
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perl
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yakobson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shlosberg
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hanji
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bogin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D009395:Nephritis, Interstitial / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D009401:Nephrosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000506:poisoning*; D010939:Plant Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D010947:Plants, Toxic / Q000506:poisoning*; D015996:Survival Rate; D014197:Trees / Q000506:poisoning*; D014456:Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers