Poisoning by Atractylus gummifera L. Roots in grazing cattle of a Sicilian farm

Abstract: Background: In farm animals, the main poisonings are due to the ingestion of toxic plants present in pastures, but their incidence is underestimated, even though they are responsible for serious damage to animal health and livestock production. Atractylis gummifera L. is a plant widespread in Mediterranean countries and in southern Italy that is responsible for serious and often fatal poisonings in both humans and animals. This investigation reports grazing cattle poisoning due to the ingestion of Atractylis gummifera L. roots present in a recently plowed pasture of a Sicilian farm. Methods: The investigation describes the clinical symptoms of poisoned cattle, especially the gastro-intestinal type, the alterations in liver and renal function, the course of poisoning (hyperacute–acute), and the necropsy examination of dead animals. In the surviving cattle, symptomatic drug therapy was administered, and hematological and biochemical analyses (blood, liver, and kidney profiles) were carried out during treatment. Results: The pharmacological therapy, although symptomatic, contributed to the recovery of the intoxicated cattle with a return to normal values of liver and kidney parameters and electrolyte profile 30–40 days after treatment. Conclusions: This investigation could be useful to veterinarians for the diagnosis of Astractylus gummifera L. root poisoning in cattle, which is also responsible for the death of some intoxicated animals, with a negative impact on livestock.