The pathogenesis of reproductive failure induced in sheep by the ingestion of Ateleia glazioviana
Raffi, M.B.; Barros, R.R.; Bragança, Jé.F.M.; Rech, R.R.; Oliveira, F.N.; Barros, C.S.L.
Veterinary and Human Toxicology 46(5): 233-238
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 0145-6296 PMID: 15487641 Document Number: 571087
In this study, 17 pregnant ewes were fed variable amounts of either green or dried leaves of A. glazioviana in 1-24 daily doses. All 17 ewes showed some form of reproductive failure. Nine ewes (52.9%) aborted their fetuses at 4-36 days after being fed the leaves of the plant, 1 had a stillbirth and 1 experienced intrauterine fetal death. The other 6 ewes delivered 8 weak lambs, 7 of which died within a few minutes to 48 h after birth. Three ewes also had neurologic disturbances and weight loss. 13 ewes were euthanized 1-48 h after lambing or pregnancy loss; 2 of them had gross and histopathological changes related to A. glazioviana poisoning. Gross and histopathological changes observed in 7 lambs and in a stillborn lamb and those found in 4 aborted fetuses from A. glazioviana-fed ewes were similar to those found in spontaneous poisoning by A. glazioviana in adult cattle. In conclusion, fresh or dried A. glazioviana leaves have a powerful abortion-inducing activity in sheep. The abortions caused by A. glazioviana were not due to placental damage, but rather to transplacental fetal lesions consisting of toxic cardiomyopathy and spongy degeneration of the white matter of the brain. Fetuses succumbing to these lesions are aborted, while those not lethally affected are born weak, with low survival rates.