A krimpsiekte-like syndrome in small stock poisoned by Ornithogalum toxicarium Archer & Archer.
Krimpsiekte (the syndrome associated with chronic cardiac glycoside poisoning) was purportedly induced by Ornithlogalum toxicarium in the Karas mountains area of Keetmanshoop, Namibia. This chinkerinchee species was previously linked to a condition known as 'kwylbek' krimpsiekte in small stock in the Beaufort West district of the Western Cape Province, South Africa. In a dosing trial, respiratory distress, tachycardia and sternal recumbency were observed in 2 sheep drenched with fresh plant material. A fluorescence polarisation immunoassay (FPIA) detected the presence of a substance that cross-reacted with digoxin antibodies in some of the plant material collected at Keetmanshoop and Beaufort West. This is the first time that apparent cardiac glycoside poisoning was induced by a southern African chinkerinchee species. The presence of the cardiac glycoside-like substance in O. toxicarium requires further chemical verification.
Botha
C J
CJ
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa.
Schultz
R A
RA
van der Lugt
J J
JJ
Archer
C
C
D000818:Animals; D002301:Cardiac Glycosides / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning; D005260:Female; D016231:Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay / Q000662:veterinary; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000506:poisoning*; D010939:Plant Poisoning / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary
D002301:Cardiac Glycosides