Poisoning by sago palm (Cycas revoluta) in cattle in the arid zone of Pernambuco State, Brazil

Abstract

An outbreak of poisoning by Cycas revoluta in cattle is reported in the municipality of Pesqueira, in the semiarid region of Pernambuco. During a severe draught on the year 2013, a farmer fed its cattle with Cycas revoluta mixed with roughage (Pennisetum purpureum). The animals presented anorexia, ruminal atony, mild jaundice, petechial hemorrhages in the ocular and vulvar mucosa, ascitis, blackish feces with mucus, and recumbence. Serum activities of aspartate amino transferase and gamma glutamyl transferase were increased and total serum proteins and albumin were decreased. All the 12 cows that ingested the plant were affected and five died showing diffuse centrilobular necrosis of the liver. During severe draughts, feeding animals with plants that the farmers do not known their toxicity is one of the main causes of poisoning in the semiarid northeastern region of Brazil.