title: Neurologic disease putatively associated with ingestion of Solanum viarum in goats.
abstract: Several Nubian-cross goats were evaluated because of chronic progressive neurologic disease. Physical and neurologic examination revealed signs consistent with diffuse cerebellar disease. Neurologic signs included generalized hyperresponsiveness, fine head tremors, wide-based posture, dysmetria, weakness, and horizontal nystagmus. No clinical improvement was noted after removing goats from affected enclosures. Histologic examination of cerebellar tissues revealed extensive vacuolation within the cytoplasm of Purkinje cells. The clinical and histologic lesions resembled closely findings that were associated with ingestion of Solanum spp in cattle and goats. Examination of enclosures revealed Solanum viarum (tropical soda apple) that had been heavily consumed by the goat herd. We hypothesized that ingestion of S. viarum caused the neurologic disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: MacKay
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Uhl
authors.forename: Simon R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Platt
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Lahunta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001259:Ataxia / Q000662:veterinary; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006041:Goats; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010939:Plant Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D032322:Solanum / Q000633:toxicity*; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000473:pathology