SHORT COMMUNICATIONS
A veterolegal case of cassava plant toxicity in malabari goats
C. Prasad, Ajith Jacob George, C. Divya, S.S. Devi, Mammen J. Abraham
Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences.2020. 51(1):91-93.
Author Details
C. Prasad: PG Scholar, Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Kerala, India.
Ajith Jacob George: Professor and Head, Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookode, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Kerala, India.
C. Divya: Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Kerala, India.
S.S. Devi: Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Kerala, India.
Mammen J. Abraham: Associate Professor & Head,Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Kerala, India.
Article History
Received: 21.03.2019, Accepted: 18.05.2019, Published online: 01.01.2020
Corrersponding author: Ajith Jacob George
e-mail: ajithjacob@kvasu.ac.in
Citation: Prasad, C., George, A. J., Divya, C., Devi, S.S. and Abraham, M. J. 2020. A veterolegal case of Cassava plant toxicity in Malabari goats. J. Vet. Anim. Sci. 51(1): 91-93.
Abstract
Carcasses of five white Malabari breed of goats from Athirapally, Kerala suspecting intentional poisoning were presented to the Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy for veterolegal post-mortem examination. External examination revealed bloated abdomen in all the carcasses. Characteristic bitter almond odour could be noticed upon opening the distended rumen. Cassava leaves could be observed inside the rumen, reticulum,omasum and abomasum. Hemorrhagic reticulitis with presence of leaf remnants, pulmonary congestion, multifocal petechial hemorrhages in brain, pale discolouration of both kidneys and catarrhal enteritis were the other lesions noticed. Rumen contents were sent to the Chemical Examiner to Government for toxicological examination and the result confirmed cyanide toxicity. Histopathological examination revealed necrosis of villi in intestine, tubular degeneration in kidneys, pulmonary emphysema and congestion, sinusoidal congestion and vacuolation of hepatocytes in liver. Based on the gross examination, histopathological observations and chemical examination results, the case was diagnosedas cyanide poisoning possibly due to excessive consumption of Cassava leaves.
Keywords : Cassava plant, toxicity, Malabari Goats
