An outbreak of poisoning by Arrabidaea corallina (Jacq.) Sandw. (Fam. Bignoniaceae) in goats is reported, which occurred in the municipality of Boqueirão, semiarid of Paraíba, during the dry season. In a flock of 550 goats, older than one year of age, 56 (10%) were affected and 6 (1%) died. Clinical signs were diarrhea, increased ruminal movements and depression. The goats recovered after being moved to another paddock. The pasture had low forage availability and large amounts of A. corallina was the only other green plant observed. One goat was necropsied. The gut had liquid, fetid and blackish content, and showed catarrhal enteritis. Histology revealed acute, diffuse and moderate enteritis. Eimeria sp. was also observed. Non significant macroscopic or histological lesions were seen in other tissues. The disease was experimentally reproduced in four goats after the administration of fresh leaves of A. corallina, at 3-6 daily doses of 15g per kg of body weight. The animals showed diarrhea 3-4 days after the beginning of administration and recovered 5-6 days afterwards. It is concluded that the plant is responsible for the outbreak of diarrhea in goats, but parasitic disease or malnutrition can be contributing factors to the animal death. Goats should be withdrawn from paddocks with A. corallina if during the dry seasons no other forage is available.
Poisonous plants; Arrabidaea corallina; Bignoniaceae; plant poisoning; digestive tract; diarrhea; goats
