Gross and Histopathology of Goats Feeding on Opuntia stricta in Laikipia County, Kenya
Various plant species such as Opuntia stricta have developed defensive measures, namely, spines, thorns, and other sharp pointed structures to protect themselves from herbivores and other animals feeding on them. Opuntia stricta has invaded the northern part of Laikipia County, Kenya, and its fruits...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Veterinary Medicine International |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/8831996 |
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| author | Jackson M. Ncebere Paul G. Mbuthia Robert M. Waruiru Peter K. Gathumbi |
| author_facet | Jackson M. Ncebere Paul G. Mbuthia Robert M. Waruiru Peter K. Gathumbi |
| author_sort | Jackson M. Ncebere |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Various plant species such as Opuntia stricta have developed defensive measures, namely, spines, thorns, and other sharp pointed structures to protect themselves from herbivores and other animals feeding on them. Opuntia stricta has invaded the northern part of Laikipia County, Kenya, and its fruits are protected by small spines called glochids. This study determined the pathology in goats feeding on this plant in Laikipia County. Eighteen goats that had eaten the plant and six others that were raised in a ranch without O. stricta were purchased for the study. All study animals were clinically examined for lesions and euthanized for necropsy examination. Clinically, goats affected by O. stricta had poor body condition, wounds on various body parts, and diarrhea. Variable numbers of O. stricta spines occurred externally on the skin throughout the body and elicited pain, swelling, and ulcerative wounds on affected parts. Internal lesions were observed in subcutaneous tissues (100%), together with stomatitis, cheilitis, gingivitis, glossitis, abomasitis (100%), rumen, reticulum, omasum thinning and loss of papillae (72.2%), esophagitis, and duodenitis (5.6%). Carcasses had gelatinous fat and muscular atrophy. Other gross lesions were generalized viscera atrophy, edema, subcutaneous emphysema, lymphadenopathy, abscesses, ascites, hydrothorax, and hydropericardium. The abomasum wall and its mucosal folds were swollen with edema, haemorrhages, and scattered foci of abscesses. Histopathology confirmed the main lesions in all affected goats were foreign-body granulomas which were located in all organs with gross lesions. Goats from O. stricta-free ranches had no spines or lesions. The pathological effects caused by O. stricta resulted in emaciated goats due to pain, inability to masticate and assimilate food, and stress, resulting in poor carcass and organs quality and possible condemnation and death. This could affect the socioeconomics and livelihoods of communities in the study area, and therefore, the spread of this plant needs to be controlled. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7a1bf5fc210943b4b24dd96e9ea676b0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2090-8113 2042-0048 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Veterinary Medicine International |
| spelling | doaj-art-7a1bf5fc210943b4b24dd96e9ea676b02025-02-03T05:57:35ZengWileyVeterinary Medicine International2090-81132042-00482021-01-01202110.1155/2021/88319968831996Gross and Histopathology of Goats Feeding on Opuntia stricta in Laikipia County, KenyaJackson M. Ncebere0Paul G. Mbuthia1Robert M. Waruiru2Peter K. Gathumbi3University of Nairobi, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Microbiology and Parasitology, P.O. Box 29053-00625, Kangemi, Nairobi, KenyaUniversity of Nairobi, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Microbiology and Parasitology, P.O. Box 29053-00625, Kangemi, Nairobi, KenyaUniversity of Nairobi, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Microbiology and Parasitology, P.O. Box 29053-00625, Kangemi, Nairobi, KenyaUniversity of Nairobi, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Microbiology and Parasitology, P.O. Box 29053-00625, Kangemi, Nairobi, KenyaVarious plant species such as Opuntia stricta have developed defensive measures, namely, spines, thorns, and other sharp pointed structures to protect themselves from herbivores and other animals feeding on them. Opuntia stricta has invaded the northern part of Laikipia County, Kenya, and its fruits are protected by small spines called glochids. This study determined the pathology in goats feeding on this plant in Laikipia County. Eighteen goats that had eaten the plant and six others that were raised in a ranch without O. stricta were purchased for the study. All study animals were clinically examined for lesions and euthanized for necropsy examination. Clinically, goats affected by O. stricta had poor body condition, wounds on various body parts, and diarrhea. Variable numbers of O. stricta spines occurred externally on the skin throughout the body and elicited pain, swelling, and ulcerative wounds on affected parts. Internal lesions were observed in subcutaneous tissues (100%), together with stomatitis, cheilitis, gingivitis, glossitis, abomasitis (100%), rumen, reticulum, omasum thinning and loss of papillae (72.2%), esophagitis, and duodenitis (5.6%). Carcasses had gelatinous fat and muscular atrophy. Other gross lesions were generalized viscera atrophy, edema, subcutaneous emphysema, lymphadenopathy, abscesses, ascites, hydrothorax, and hydropericardium. The abomasum wall and its mucosal folds were swollen with edema, haemorrhages, and scattered foci of abscesses. Histopathology confirmed the main lesions in all affected goats were foreign-body granulomas which were located in all organs with gross lesions. Goats from O. stricta-free ranches had no spines or lesions. The pathological effects caused by O. stricta resulted in emaciated goats due to pain, inability to masticate and assimilate food, and stress, resulting in poor carcass and organs quality and possible condemnation and death. This could affect the socioeconomics and livelihoods of communities in the study area, and therefore, the spread of this plant needs to be controlled.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/8831996 |
| spellingShingle | Jackson M. Ncebere Paul G. Mbuthia Robert M. Waruiru Peter K. Gathumbi Gross and Histopathology of Goats Feeding on Opuntia stricta in Laikipia County, Kenya Veterinary Medicine International |
| title | Gross and Histopathology of Goats Feeding on Opuntia stricta in Laikipia County, Kenya |
| title_full | Gross and Histopathology of Goats Feeding on Opuntia stricta in Laikipia County, Kenya |
| title_fullStr | Gross and Histopathology of Goats Feeding on Opuntia stricta in Laikipia County, Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gross and Histopathology of Goats Feeding on Opuntia stricta in Laikipia County, Kenya |
| title_short | Gross and Histopathology of Goats Feeding on Opuntia stricta in Laikipia County, Kenya |
| title_sort | gross and histopathology of goats feeding on opuntia stricta in laikipia county kenya |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/8831996 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jacksonmncebere grossandhistopathologyofgoatsfeedingonopuntiastrictainlaikipiacountykenya AT paulgmbuthia grossandhistopathologyofgoatsfeedingonopuntiastrictainlaikipiacountykenya AT robertmwaruiru grossandhistopathologyofgoatsfeedingonopuntiastrictainlaikipiacountykenya AT peterkgathumbi grossandhistopathologyofgoatsfeedingonopuntiastrictainlaikipiacountykenya |