title: Castor bean (Ricinus communis) toxicosis in a sheep flock.
abstract: This paper describes clinical, laboratory and pathological findings of sheep, which is intoxicated with castor bean. The source of intoxication was a miscellaneous garden waste. Forty-five animals showed clinical toxicosis and 17 died. The clinical signs included weakness, salivation, profuse watery diarrhoea, dehydration, mydriasis, teeth grinding, hypothermia and recumbency. The most significant haematological and biochemical findings were a high haematocrit, high concentration of serum BUN, creatinine and phosphorus and high activity of serum CK and AST. Pathology revealed severe gastroenteritis, cardiac haemorrhage and necrosis, hepatic necrosis and acute tubular necrosis in kidneys. Treatment included symptomatic and supportive care with fluid therapy and cathartic administration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, PO Box 91775-1793, Mashhad, Iran. mraslani@ferdowsi.um.ac.ir
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Aslani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maleki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohri
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sharifi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Najjar-Nezhad
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Afshari
mesh_terms: D000018:Abomasum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D002367:Ricinus communis / Q000506:poisoning*; D019963:Clinical Chemistry Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D010939:Plant Poisoning / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology