Robinia pseudoacacia poisoning in two horses: A case report

This case report describes the poisoning of two mares from the same paddock with Robinia pseudoacacia (Black locust) bark. The poisoning manifested itself by the sudden onset of weakness and fever with transient improvement after the administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and fluids...

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Main Authors: T Novotna, E Samonilova, J Klan, L Frgelecova, A Mala, Z Svobodova, Z Drabkova
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences 2024-11-01
Series:Veterinární Medicína
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Online Access:https://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/vet-202411-0003_robinia-pseudoacacia-poisoning-in-two-horses-a-case-report.php
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author T Novotna
E Samonilova
J Klan
L Frgelecova
A Mala
Z Svobodova
Z Drabkova
author_facet T Novotna
E Samonilova
J Klan
L Frgelecova
A Mala
Z Svobodova
Z Drabkova
author_sort T Novotna
collection DOAJ
description This case report describes the poisoning of two mares from the same paddock with Robinia pseudoacacia (Black locust) bark. The poisoning manifested itself by the sudden onset of weakness and fever with transient improvement after the administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and fluids. After the initial stabilisation, the mares were left unattended overnight. One of them was found dead in the morning. The surviving mare developed colic and severe encephalopathy and had to be referred to the clinic. Blood tests revealed severe hyperammonaemia. After four days of symptomatic treatment, she fully recovered. Robinia pseudoacacia with bark freshly bitten off was found in the paddock. The necropsy of the dead mare revealed oedema of the brain and lungs, pleural haemorrhages, and hyperaemia and haemorrhages of the glandular mucosa of the stomach. The intestinal content was watery, without macroscopic findings of the bark. Due to the peracute onset in both mares at the same time, hyperammonaemia and paralytic ileus in the surviving mare, and the presence of Robinia pseudoacacia in the paddock, poisoning with this tree was highly suspected. The diagnosis was confirmed by the microscopic findings of Robinia pseudoacacia bark tissue in the gastric content of the dead mare.
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spelling doaj-art-b84185d05ab8404ea36feeefa299b7e82025-08-20T02:07:28ZengCzech Academy of Agricultural SciencesVeterinární Medicína0375-84271805-93922024-11-016911395400vet-202411-0003Robinia pseudoacacia poisoning in two horses: A case reportT Novotna0E Samonilova1J Klan2L Frgelecova3A Mala4Z Svobodova5Z Drabkova6Department of Animal Protection and Welfare and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech RepublicEquine Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech RepublicInstitute of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University Prague, Prague, Czech RepublicDepartment of Pathological morphology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech RepublicDepartment of Pathological morphology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech RepublicDepartment of Animal Protection and Welfare and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech RepublicEquine Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech RepublicThis case report describes the poisoning of two mares from the same paddock with Robinia pseudoacacia (Black locust) bark. The poisoning manifested itself by the sudden onset of weakness and fever with transient improvement after the administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and fluids. After the initial stabilisation, the mares were left unattended overnight. One of them was found dead in the morning. The surviving mare developed colic and severe encephalopathy and had to be referred to the clinic. Blood tests revealed severe hyperammonaemia. After four days of symptomatic treatment, she fully recovered. Robinia pseudoacacia with bark freshly bitten off was found in the paddock. The necropsy of the dead mare revealed oedema of the brain and lungs, pleural haemorrhages, and hyperaemia and haemorrhages of the glandular mucosa of the stomach. The intestinal content was watery, without macroscopic findings of the bark. Due to the peracute onset in both mares at the same time, hyperammonaemia and paralytic ileus in the surviving mare, and the presence of Robinia pseudoacacia in the paddock, poisoning with this tree was highly suspected. The diagnosis was confirmed by the microscopic findings of Robinia pseudoacacia bark tissue in the gastric content of the dead mare.https://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/vet-202411-0003_robinia-pseudoacacia-poisoning-in-two-horses-a-case-report.phpbarkblack locustequinehyperammonaemiaintoxication
spellingShingle T Novotna
E Samonilova
J Klan
L Frgelecova
A Mala
Z Svobodova
Z Drabkova
Robinia pseudoacacia poisoning in two horses: A case report
Veterinární Medicína
bark
black locust
equine
hyperammonaemia
intoxication
title Robinia pseudoacacia poisoning in two horses: A case report
title_full Robinia pseudoacacia poisoning in two horses: A case report
title_fullStr Robinia pseudoacacia poisoning in two horses: A case report
title_full_unstemmed Robinia pseudoacacia poisoning in two horses: A case report
title_short Robinia pseudoacacia poisoning in two horses: A case report
title_sort robinia pseudoacacia poisoning in two horses a case report
topic bark
black locust
equine
hyperammonaemia
intoxication
url https://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/vet-202411-0003_robinia-pseudoacacia-poisoning-in-two-horses-a-case-report.php
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AT esamonilova robiniapseudoacaciapoisoningintwohorsesacasereport
AT jklan robiniapseudoacaciapoisoningintwohorsesacasereport
AT lfrgelecova robiniapseudoacaciapoisoningintwohorsesacasereport
AT amala robiniapseudoacaciapoisoningintwohorsesacasereport
AT zsvobodova robiniapseudoacaciapoisoningintwohorsesacasereport
AT zdrabkova robiniapseudoacaciapoisoningintwohorsesacasereport