Accidental Poisoning with Nerium Oleander in Dairy Goat in the Santiago Metropolitan Region in Chile

Abstract

<p>A small dairy goat farm in central Chile stocked their troughs with ornamental plants and grasses, which were obtained after pruning the gardens of neighboring sectors. Twelve hours after the goats ingested this food, the farm registered a death toll of eight goats, all of which were adult females in their productive stage, before entering the milking parlor. The mortality episode lasted 84 hours and produced mortality and morbidity values of 48 and 54 percent, respectively (n = 52). During a visit to the farm, clinic inspections, autopsies, and sample tissues were obtained for microscopic analysis (the tissues specimens were fixed in 10% buffered formaldehyde solution). The clinic inspection and microscopic analysis both confirmed that the animals had cardiovascular disease. The lesions were compatible with those produced by cardiac glycosides. During the site visit, Nerium oleander was found in the troughs, which suggested that the animals were poisoned by eating this plant. There was a high presence of this plant in the poisoned area, and it was not associated with the mortality episode before the on-site visit, which indicates that the authors should conduct training and inform producers about the handling and feeding of their animals</p>