The use of ultrasonography to study teratogenicity in ruminants: evaluation of Ipomoea carnea in goats.
BACKGROUND
Ipomoea carnea (I. carnea) is a poisonous plant found in Brazil and other tropical countries that often poison livestock. The plant contains the alkaloids calystegines and mainly swainsonine, which inhibit cellular enzymes and cause systematic cell death. The objective of this study was to evaluate the perinatal effects of I. carnea in goats.


METHODS
Forty-seven pregnant goats were randomly allocated into 5 treatment groups and given the following doses (g/kg BW) of I. carnea: 0 (IC0), 1.0 (IC1), 3.0 (IC3), 5.0 (IC5) and 7.5 (IC7). The treatment animals were given fresh I. carnea from day 27 of gestation to parturition. Weight gains and serum biochemistry were evaluated. Fetuses were evaluated using ultrasonographic measurements.


RESULTS
Goats from the IC7 group showed clinical signs of poisoning. Ultrasound examination revealed that I. carnea feeding in all treatment groups reduced fetal movement compared to the controls. There was an increase in the total number of birth defects (retrognathia and arthrogyposis) in the IC7 and IC5 groups compared to the controls.


CONCLUSIONS
The results show that I. carnea has teratogenic potential in goats. In addition, ultrasounds were useful in evaluating fetotoxicity and teratogenicity.
Research Centre for Veterinary Toxicology (CEPTOX), Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, São Paulo, Brazil.
André T
AT
Gotardo
Breno H
BH
Schumaher
James A
JA
Pfister
Anneliese S
AS
Traldi
Paulo C
PC
Maiorka
Helenice S
HS
Spinosa
Silvana L
SL
Górniak
D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000209:etiology; D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005324:Fetal Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D006041:Goats / Q000196:embryology*; D027741:Ipomoea / Q000633:toxicity*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D063173:Retrognathia / Q000139:chemically induced; D013723:Teratogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000662:veterinary*
D010936:Plant Extracts; D013723:Teratogens