Plants Flashcards
toxic principle of foxglove
digitalis glycosides (present in flowers, seeds and leaves)
mechanism of action of foxglove
interferes with Na/K ATPase –> decreased intracellular K and increased intracellular Na –> increased Ca (interferes with normal electrical conductivity in myocardium)
clinical signs of foxglove toxicity
vomiting, colic, diarrhea, anorexia, CV (bradycardia, arrhythmias, heart failure), weakness, depression, dyspnea, tremors, convulsions, coma, death
diagnosis of foxglove
ECG, plant in stomach contents
PM of foxglove
gastroenteritis
treatment of foxglove
emesis, activated charcoal, saline cathartic, symptomatic and supportive, digibind (human product with cross reactivity to plant toxins)
toxic principle of japanese yew
alkaloid taxine; taxine B (wood, bark, leaves, seeds) – not present in fleshy fruit
toxic principle of japanese yew
alkaloid taxine; taxine B (wood, bark, leaves, seeds) – not present in fleshy fruit
japanese yew mechanism of action
disrupts Na and Ca currents in myocytes by binding receptors; depress conduction of myocardial depolarization
susceptibility of japanese yew
equine are more susceptible than ruminants (but both are susceptible)
clinical signs of japanese yew poisoning
rapid onset, sudden death, weakness, trembling, dyspnea, bradycardia, arrhythmias, convulsion, collapse
diagnosis of japanese yew poisoning
ECG abnormalities; alkaloid screen to ID toxin in stomach;
PM of japanese yew poisoning
gastroenteritis, secondary pulmonary congestion and edema
treatment of japanese yew poisoning
GI decontamination, activated charcoal, fluids, seizure control, treat arrhythmias
toxic principle of rhododendron
glycoside grayanotoxin (all plant parts, especially leaves)
mechanism of action of rhododendron toxicity
toxin binds and modified voltage gated Na channels on muscle membranes and nervous system –> leaves them in open position –> Na influx –> prolonged myocardial depolarization (paralysis); also increases intracellular Ca to have digitalis like effects on heart
clinical signs of rhododendron toxicity
salivation, projectile vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, severe colic, depression, ataxia, paralysis, brady cardia, hypotension, arrhythmias
diagnosis of rhododendron toxicity
clinical signs and ID plant;
PM of rhododendron toxicity
degeneration of liver and kidneys (mild); GI irritation
treatment of rhododendron toxicity
aggressive GI decontamination, activated charcoal, symptomatic and supportive
toxic principle of jimson weed
tropane alkaloids (hyoscyamine, scopolamine, hyoscine) – all plant parts, especially seeds
mechanism of low dose jimson weed
competitive inhibitor of acetylcholine
mechanism of high dose jimson weed
direct CNS stimulation (crosses BBB rapidly)
clinical signs of jimson weed toxicity
atropine-like syndrome – mydriasis, anorexia, thirst, tachycardia, tachypnea, hypothermia, tremors, excitability, convulsions, death from resp paralysis
clinical signs of high dose jimson weed toxicity
hyperesthesia, apprehension, mania, vocalization
diagnosis of jimson weed toxicity
bioassay, pathology, drop of patients urine in the eye of clinic cat will cause mydriasis
diagnosis of jimson weed toxicity
bioassay, pathology, drop of patients urine in the eye of clinic cat will cause mydriasis
treatment of jimson weed toxicity
GI decontamination, activated charcoal, symptomatic/supportive, neostigmine (inhibits acetylcholinesterase)
toxic principle of castor bean
glycoprotein ricin (lectin) – stays in meal of bean
mechanism of action of castor bean
binds galacto-lipid and galacto-protein membrane components –> internalization –> cell death by inhibition of protein synthesis
clinical signs of castor bean toxicity
latent period of 10 hours to several days; severe colic, diarrhea, depression, thirst, sweating, weakness, fever, pronounced heartbeat, cyanosis, convulsions, recumbency, death from respiratory paralysis and multiorgan failure
diagnosis of castor bean toxicity
clinical pathology and lesions
clinical pathology of castor bean toxicity
huge increase in PCV, panleukopenia, increased liver enzymes and bilirubin
PM of castor bean toxicity
hemorrhagic gastroenteritis
treatment of castor bean toxicity
GI decontamination, activated charcoal, fluids and electrolytes, GI protectants, grave prognosis
toxic principle of plants containing oxalates
calcium oxalate crystals are preformed in leaves and stems as insoluble salts
toxic principle of plants containing oxalates
calcium oxalate crystals are preformed in leaves and stems as insoluble salts +/- proteolytic enzymes
mechanism of action of plants containing oxalates
mechanical irritation from calcium oxalate raphides and proteolytic enzymes cause release of inflammatory mediators (histamine)
clinical signs of toxicity of plants containing oxalates
rapid onset of salivation, head shaking, oral pain, swelling of oral mucosa can lead to dyspnea, colic, vomiting, diarrhea
diagnosis of oxalate plant toxicity
clinical signs and ID plant
treatment of oxalate plant toxicity
rinse mouth, oral calcium (to precipitate some soluble oxalates), antihistamine, symptomatic/supportive
toxic principle of poinsettia
diterpene ester (milky white sap)
mechanism of action of poinsettia exposure
GIT irritation
clinical signs of poinsettia exposure
rapid onset of oral irritation leading to hypersalivation +/- head shaking, vomiting, diarrhea
diagnosis of poinsettia exposure
clinical signs, ID plant
treatment of poinsettia exposure
GI decontamination, activated charcoal, symptomatic/supportive
toxic principle of mistletoe
phoratoxin (NA); viscumin and viscotoxin (EU)
mechanism of action of mistletoe exposure
phoratoxin inhibits protein synthesis; viscumin agglutinates RBC and causes intravascular hemolysis; viscotoxin stimulates smooth and skeletal muscle
clinical signs of mistletoe exposure
delayed several hours for lectin to get into cell; colic, vomiting, diarrhea
diagnosis of mistletoe exposure
clinical signs and plant ID
treatment of mistletoe exposure
GI decontamination, activated charcoal, saline cathartic, symptomatic and supportive
toxic principle of autumn crocus
colchicine (alkaloid) – all parts esp. corm and seeds
mechanism of action of autumn crocus
binds to tubulin to disrupt microtubule dependent processes; rapidly dividing cells are most sensitive –> leaves cells arrested in metaphase
clinical signs of autumn crocus toxicity
delay of 12-24 hours; severe colic, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, weakness, ataxia, multiorgan failure (esp. liver, kidney), collapse, coma, death
diagnosis of autumn crocus toxicity
clinical signs, plant ID, clinical pathology (increased liver and renal enzymes)
diagnosis of autumn crocus toxicity
clinical signs, plant ID, clinical pathology (increased liver and renal enzymes, PM (gastroenteritis)
treatment of autumn crocus toxicity
GI decontamination (if observe eating plant), activated charcoal, fluids, electrolytes, anticholchicin is used in people
clinical signs of lily poisoning
within 1-2 hours – vomiting, anorexia, lethargy, hypersalivation, depression; polyuria, ataxia, tremors, vocalization; 24-96 hours – oliguric or anuric ARF with uremic breath, dyspnea, recumbency
Clin path of lily poisoning
increased BUN and creatinine, increased P and K, acidosis, glucosuria, proteinuria, granular casts
PM of lily poisoning
swollen, edematous kidneys; PCT necrosis, intact basement membrane (if cat lives kidney can regenerate)
diagnosis of lily poisoning
clin path and history
treatment of lily poisoning
emesis/gastric lavage in less than 6 hours; activated charcoal, IV fluids, supportive care