title: A comprehensive study of Easter lily poisoning in cats.
abstract: This study was conducted with 3 objectives in mind: first, to identify the toxic fraction (aqueous or organic) in leaves and flowers; second, to identify diagnostic marker(s) of toxicosis in cats; and, third, to evaluate the morphologic effects of intoxication. The study was conducted in 2 phases. Phase 1 was to identify which extract, organic or aqueous, was nephrotoxic and also to determine the appropriate dose for use in the phase 2 studies. Results indicated that only the aqueous extracts of leaves and flowers were nephrotoxic and pancreotoxic. To identify the proximate toxic compound, cats in the phase 2 study were orally exposed to subfractions of the aqueous flower extract, 1 subfraction per cat. Results confirmed vomiting, depression, polyuria, polydipsia, azotemia, glucosuria, proteinuria, and isosthenuria as toxic effects of the Easter lily plant. Another significant finding in serum was elevated creatinine kinase. Significant histologic kidney changes included acute necrosis of proximal convoluted tubules and degeneration of pancreatic acinar cells. Renal ultrastructural changes included swollen mitochondria, megamitochondria, edema, and lipidosis. Subfraction IIa3 of the aqueous floral extract contained most of the toxic compound(s). These studies reproduced the clinical disease, identified the most toxic fraction of the Easter lily, and helped characterize the clinical pathology, histopathology, and ultrastructural pathology associated with the disease.
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health and Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lansing, Michigan 48910-8104, USA.
authors.forename: Wilson K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Rumbeiha
authors.forename: Jayaraj A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: Scott D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: Muraleedharan G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Holan
authors.forename: Kwasi A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Bugyei
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Simmons
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D002415:Cats; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000662:veterinary; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D035264:Flowers / Q000506:poisoning; D007687:Kidney Tubules, Proximal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D027762:Lilium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000506:poisoning*; D010179:Pancreas / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000506:poisoning*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000506:poisoning; D010939:Plant Poisoning / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D003402:Creatine Kinase