Poisonous plants affecting cattle in central-western Brazil

Poisonous plants affecting cattle in the Brazilian Central-Western region are reviewed. The most important poisonous plants in the region are Brachiaria spp., which cause hepatogenous photosensitization, and Palicourea marcgravii and Mascagnia pubiflora, which cause sudden death precipitated by exercise. Enterolobium contortisiliquum, Stryphnodendron obovatum, and Stryphnodendron fissuratum are trees whose pods cause digestive signs, photosensitization, and abortion. Vernonia mollissima and V. rubricaulis cause acute liver necrosis, but V. rubricaulis is much more important than V. mollisima as a cause of cattle losses. Other less important plants are Solanum glaucophyllum, which causes soft tissue calcification; Ipomoea carnea subsp. fistulosa, which causes nervous signs; Senna occidentalis and Senna obtusifolia, which cause segmental muscular necrosis; Tetrapterys multiglandulosa, which causes cardiac fibrosis, abortion, and neonatal mortality; Polygala klotzschii, which causes lymphatic tissue necrosis; and Pterodon emarginatus, a tree whose leaves cause liver necrosis. Rare outbreaks of poisoning by Lantana tiliaefolia, Cestrum laevigatum, Pteridium caudatum, and Crotalaria spp. also are observed.