Poisonous Plants Flashcards
What are cyanide containing plants?
Chokecherry, Vetch, Hydrangea, Johnson grass (sorghum)
What is the toxic principle of cyanide?
Inhibits mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase
How does cyanide affect the cells?
Cannot release O2 for transport, leads to cellular hypoxia
How soon after ingestion of a cyanide containing plant will clinical signs begin?
Within 10-15min
What is commonly the first clinical sign of cyanide-containing plant tox?
Acute death
What are other potential signs of cyanide-containing plant tox?
Excitement/tremors, dyspnea, salivation
What is a key finding on investigations of a cyanide-containing plant tox?
Bright red blood (cherry colored)
How will cyanide gas in the rumen smell?
Faint bitter almond smell
How do you treat cyanide toxicity?
Sodium thiosulfate or small amount of sodium nitrite
How does sodium nitrite treat cyanide tox?
Has greater affinity for cyanide so it strips cyanide from cytochrome oxidase
How does sodium thiosulfate treat cyanide tox?
Reacts w/cyanide to form thiocyanate which is excreted in urine
What are nitrate accumulating plants?
Pigweed, Nightshades, oat hay, Sorghum, rye, alfalfa
Why are nitrate accumulating plants particularly a problem in ruminants?
Reduction to nitrite by microbes in rumen
What color blood will nitrate poisoning produce?
Chocolate brown (diminished O2 carrying capacity)
What does nitrate cause in the blood?
Methemoglobinemia
What are clinical signs of nitrate poisoning?
Dyspnea, tremors, ataxia, tachycardia
How do you treat nitrate poisoning?
1% methylene blue
How does methylene blue help treat nitrate poisoning?
Reduces methemoglobin
Which plant contains cardiac glycosides, oleandrin, and neriine?
Oleander
Which plant contains cardiac glycosides that prolong diastole?
Foxglove
Which plant contains >20 cardiac glycosides and has a digitalis-like action?
Lily of the Velley
What plant contains taxine alkaloids A and B?
Yew
How does yew affect the heart?
Inhibits cardiac depolarization
Which plant contains andromedotoxins?
Rhododendron (azalea)
What do andromedotoxins do?
Bind membrane Na channels = excitation and digitalis
What are clinical sings of cardiotoxic plants?
Salivation, nausea, weakness, bradycardia, AV block, collapse
How do you treat cardiotoxic plant tox in small aimals?
Emesis, activated charcoal, supportive care
How do you treat bradycardia assoc. w/cardiotoxic plant tox?
Atropine
How do you treat AV blocks assoc. w/cardiotoxic plant tox?
Isoproterenol, procainamide, quinidine
What plant causes primary photosensitization?
St. John’s wort
What plants cause 2* photosensitization?
Brassica spp. (rape), Blue-green algae, Groundsel
What is photosensitization?
Increases susceptibility to UV light damage
What areas of the body are most affected by photosensitization?
White/light skinned areas, thin/non-pigmented areas
When ingested/absorbed, the agent is or is metabolized to become photodynamic
Primary photosensitization
Is primary or secondary photosensitization have a better prognosis?
Primary
Effects of _____ photosensitization are usually restricted to the skin
Primary
Causes damage to the liver along with skin lesions
Secondary photosensitization
What are clinical signs of photosensitization?
Erythema, edema, sunburn, pruritus, hyperesthesia
What are neurotoxic plants?
Lupine, poison hemlock, Larkspur, Nightshade, Bracken fern
Which neurotoxic plant most commonly affects sheep?
Lupine
What is the MoA of lupine?
Quinolizidine alkaloid induces nicotinic effects
What are clinical signs of lupine?
Salivation, incoordination, head-pressing, wandering, tremors/seizures
In which species is lupine a teratogen?
Cattle
At what age gestation is lupine teratogenic in cattle?
40-70d gestation