Toxicosis por pasto Mulato (Brachiaria ruziziensis- Brachiaria brizantha) en cabras de la provincia Artemisa

Se investigo un evento de mortalidad inusual en un rebano estabulado de 98 caprinos (23 machos y 75 hembras), de la raza Boer, ubicados en una unidad de crianza. La alimentacion basica consistio en pienso de produccion nacional, forraje de pasto Mulato (B. ruzizienses- B. brizanta), procedente del area forrajera de la propia unidad, heno elaborado a partir de la misma planta y agua ad libitum. Se realizaron estudios bacteriologicos, virologicos y hematologicos. A los animales fallecidos se les realizo la necropsia y se practicaron estudios histopatologicos. La manifestacion tuvo un proceso de curso subagudo caracterizado, principalmente, por inapetencia, desmedro progresivo, paralisis ruminal en casos aislados, ictericia y ausencia de fiebre en la mayoria de los animales; posteriormente, se sucedieron afectaciones respiratorias. La morbilidad llego al 50 % y la mortalidad alcanzo el 16% debido a un sindrome de insuficiencia hepato-renal y diatesis hemorragica por insuficiencia hepatica aguda. El proceso ocurrido se atribuyo a toxicosis por consumo de pasto Mulato como forraje y heno, debido a la existencia de saponinas en esta especie de Brachiaria. Palabras clave: pasto, Brachiaria, toxicosis, caprino, saponina. Toxicosis in goat by Mulato grass (Brachiaria ruziziensis- Brachiaria brizantha) in Artemisa province ABSTRACT A case of unusual mortality was studied to elucidate the suspicion of toxicosis in a feedlot herd of 98 Boer goats. The basic diet consisted of conventional feedstuff, Mulato grass (B. ruzizienses- B. brizanta) forage from the own unit areas, hay produced from the same grass, and water ad libitum. There was a sub-acute curse mainly characterized by anorexia, progressive deterioration, ruminal paralysis in isolated cases, icterus in absence of fever in the majority of animals. Morbidity reached up to50 % and mortality up to 16%. As part of the case research, haematological, bacteriological, and serological studies were carried out. Pathomorphological studies were done on two of the dead animals. A hepatic-renal insufficiency and hemorrhagic diathesis due to an acute hepatic insufficiency were consistent with death cause. It was concluded that the process studied was caused by the consumption of Mulato grass as the unique fibrous food, due to the toxic effect of saponins present in this Brachiaria species. Key words: grass, Brachiaria, toxicosis, goat, saponin.