Outbreak of oleander (nerium oleander) poisoning in dairy cattle: Clinical and food safety implications

Luigi Ceci, Flavia Girolami, Maria Teresa Capucchio, Elena Colombino, Carlo Nebbia, Fabio Gosetti, Emilio Marengo, Fabrizio Iarussi, Grazia Carelli

Risultato della ricerca: Contributo su rivistaArticolo in rivistapeer review

Abstract

Oleander is a spontaneous shrub widely occurring in Mediterranean regions. Poisoning is sporadically reported in livestock, mainly due to the ingestion of leaves containing toxic cardiac glycosides (primarily oleandrin). In this study, 50 lactating Fleckvieh cows were affected after being offered a diet containing dry oleander pruning wastes accidentally mixed with fodder. Clinical examination, electrocardiogram, and blood sampling were conducted. Dead animals were necropsied, and heart, liver, kidney, spleen, and intestine were submitted to histological investigation. Oleandrin detection was performed through ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in blood, serum, liver, heart, milk, and cheese samples. Severe depression, anorexia, ruminal atony, diarrhea, serous nasal discharge, tachycardia, and irregular heartbeat were the most common clinical signs. The first animal died within 48 h, and a total of 13 cows died in 4 days. Disseminated hyperemia and hemorrhages, multifocal coagulative necrosis of the cardiac muscle fibers, and severe and diffuse enteritis were suggestive of oleander poisoning. The diagnosis was confirmed by the presence of oleandrin in serum, liver, heart, milk, and cheese. Our results confirm the high toxicity of oleander in cattle and report for the first time the transfer into milk and dairy products, suggesting a potential risk for the consumers.

Lingua originaleInglese
Numero di articolo471
RivistaToxins
Volume12
Numero di pubblicazione8
DOI
Stato di pubblicazionePubblicato - ago 2020

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