Fatal onion (Allium cepa) toxicosis in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).

Full Abstract

Toxicosis caused by the ingestion of onion (Allium cepa) by 5 water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) occurred in the district of Caçador, Santa Catarina, Brazil. The water buffalo died after ingestion of a large quantity of onion that had been left in the pasture. Clinical signs started 8 days postingestion and were characterized by pale mucous membranes, lethargy, and dark urine. At necropsy, pieces of onions were found in the rumen of 1 animal. The carcass smelled strongly of onion, and the kidneys and urine were dark brown. Microscopic renal lesions included tubular degeneration and necrosis with deposits of eosinophilic material in the cytoplasm of renal tubular epithelial cells and tubular lumina. These changes were consistent with hemoglobinuric nephrosis. Centrilobular coagulation necrosis was observed in the liver accompanied by hemorrhage and macrophages containing brown cytoplasmic pigment. A diagnosis of hemolytic anemia caused by onion toxicosis was based on the epidemiological data, clinical signs, macroscopic changes, and histological lesions.

Author information

Author/s: Borelli, Vanessa (V); Lucioli, Joelma (J); Furlan, Fernando Henrique (FH); Hoepers, Patrícia Giovana (PG); Roveda, Juliano Fleck (JF); Traverso, Sandra Davi (SD); Gava, Aldo (A);

Affiliation: Laboratório de Patologia Animal, Centro de Ciências Agroveterinárias, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Av. Luis de Camões 2090, Lages, SC, Brasil, CEP 88520-000. a2ag(-atsign-)cav.udesc.br

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Case Reports; Journal Article

Journal: Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc (J Vet Diagn Invest), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-May; vol 21 (issue 3) : pp 402-5

Dates: Created 2009/05/01; Completed 2009/07/14;

PMID: 19407101, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 7/24/2009)

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