Dr Christopher Bourke Dr Christopher Bourke Dr Christopher Bourke Dr Christopher Bourke Consultant Specialist Veterinary ToxicologistConsultant Specialist Veterinary ToxicologistConsultant Specialist Veterinary ToxicologistConsultant Specialist Veterinary Toxicologist““““TinternTinternTinternTintern”””” Spring Terrace Road Millthorpe NSW Spring Terrace Road Millthorpe NSW Spring Terrace Road Millthorpe NSW Spring Terrace Road Millthorpe NSW

No liver damage No liver damage No liver damage No liver damage –––– Ill thrift without deathsIll thrift without deathsIll thrift without deathsIll thrift without deaths

� St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

� Lucerne, medics and clovers

� Green fodder cereal crops

� Brassicas (Canola, Kale, Wild Radish, etc)

Liver damageLiver damageLiver damageLiver damage---- Deaths and Ill thriftDeaths and Ill thriftDeaths and Ill thriftDeaths and Ill thrift

� a) Lupins + Phomopsis fungus

� b) Grass + grass litter fungus (Facial Eczema)

� c) Blue Green Algae (Microcystis) in water

� d) Saponins (crystals form if 2nd factor occurs)

Cat head/Caltrop (Tribulus terrestris)

Green fodder oats

Panicum grasses (Hairy Panic)

Deaths and Ill thriftDeaths and Ill thriftDeaths and Ill thriftDeaths and Ill thrift

� Mouldy grain (Aspergillus fungus, aflatoxins)

� Green Cestrum bush (Cestrum parqui)

� Stubble paddocks

Patersons curse (Echium spp)

Caterpillar weed (Heliotropium spp)

Lesser Loosestrife (Lythrum) & kidney damage

� Per acute Phalaris poisoning – first 48 hours,ammonia toxicity (brain shuts down)

� Per acute Phalaris poisoning – any time,cardiac failure (heart muscle fails)

� Hypocalcaemia on oxalate accumulating plants (risk period is first 48 hours)

� Grain Overload (lactic acidosis)

� Lush legumes (Red Gut)

� Chronic Copper Poisoning(sudden release of liver Cu destroys RBC’s)

� Cyanide releasing plantsleafy sorghum, lotus, or linseed

� Nitrate accumulating plantsfresh, stalky plants, nitrogen-rich holding yards, first 48 hours

� White Cedar berries (Melia azedarach)

(urinate, defaecate, salivate, tremble, die)

� Oleander bush

heart failure + respiratory and gut signs

� Mother of millions (Bryophyllum sp)

heart failure + respiratory and gut signs

� Annual Ryegrass Annual Ryegrass Annual Ryegrass Annual Ryegrass - seed head ergots (fungus)

panting, drooling, death if no shade, ill thrift

� Perennial Ryegrass & Fescue Perennial Ryegrass & Fescue Perennial Ryegrass & Fescue Perennial Ryegrass & Fescue – wild endophyte

can cause hyperthermia and ill thrift or sometimes foot and face gangrene

Nervous / Muscular DisordersNervous / Muscular DisordersNervous / Muscular DisordersNervous / Muscular Disorders

� a) Limb weakness:Marshmallow (Malva parviflora)

� b) Limb weakness + knuckling:Stagger weed (Stachys arvensis)Nodding blue lily (Stypandra glauca)Fenugreek & some grass pastures

‘kangaroo gait’

� c) Limb weakness + knuckling + falling:

Onion grass (Romulea rosea) in winter

Chronic Phalaris Staggers (delayed onset)

� d) Limb weakness + knuckling + falling + tremors:

Acute Phalaris Staggers

Perennial Ryegrass Staggers

Paspalum Staggers

� Onion Grass Onion Grass Onion Grass Onion Grass (Romulea rosea)

failure to ovulate or conceive, possibly abortion, following summer seed ingestion

� Medics, clovers, lucerneMedics, clovers, lucerneMedics, clovers, lucerneMedics, clovers, lucerne

depressed ovulation due to phytoestrogens

levels rise in mature plants especially if leaves are diseased or attacked by insects

� Rock Fern, Bracken Fern and NardooRock Fern, Bracken Fern and NardooRock Fern, Bracken Fern and NardooRock Fern, Bracken Fern and Nardoo

Thiaminase compounds cause Vit B deficit hence blindness and brain damage (PE)

� Green cereal crops (eg oats).Green cereal crops (eg oats).Green cereal crops (eg oats).Green cereal crops (eg oats).

‘Rickets’/ osteroporosis in XBD lambs

due to a Ca, P, and Vit D disturbance

� Bitter Melon and Paddy MelonBitter Melon and Paddy MelonBitter Melon and Paddy MelonBitter Melon and Paddy Melon

diarrhoea, dehydration, and death

� Red Root (Red Root (Red Root (Red Root (Amaranthus retroflexusAmaranthus retroflexusAmaranthus retroflexusAmaranthus retroflexus))))

chronic kidney disease hence ill thrift

Oxalate Accumulating PlantsOxalate Accumulating PlantsOxalate Accumulating PlantsOxalate Accumulating Plants

Pigweed, Fat hen, Sorrel, Oxalis, Roly poly, Soda bush, Portulaca, Brassicas etc etc

� Hypocalcaemia (first 48 hours of grazing)

� Diarrhoea (crystals cause gut wall damage)

� Respiratory distress (oedema of lungs)

� Acute and chronic kidney disease

Brassicas Brassicas Brassicas Brassicas ---- Canola, forage brassicas, kale, wild Canola, forage brassicas, kale, wild Canola, forage brassicas, kale, wild Canola, forage brassicas, kale, wild radish, wild turnip etcradish, wild turnip etcradish, wild turnip etcradish, wild turnip etc

� Abortion, < conception rates, neonatal goitre� Diarrhoea or Constipation� Blindness and or brain damage (PE)� Anaemia (haemolytic)� Acute respiratory distress (tryptophan) � Primary photosensitisation� Nitrate and Oxalate poisonings