Plantas que causam morte súbita em bovinos na Bahia

Abstract

The bovine cattle farming has exerted a strong influence on the economic development of the Brazil since the time of colonization. With great territorial extension, the majority of bovine cattle breeding in Brazil is extensive or semi-extensive, in native or planted pastures. The state of Bahia owns 37.4% of the cattle herd of the country establishing advantages in the internal and external market compared to other states in the Northeast. Among the limiting factors to the extensive breeding system the occurrence of outbreaks by plant poisoning must be considered. It is estimated that among the annual causes of death of cattle, about 15% are associated to plant poisonings. In Brazil, it is known more than 130 species of toxic plants that directly affect the health of herds, and at least 15 species of plants that cause heart malfunctioning. In order to relate epidemiological aspects and diagnostic methods of the main cardiotoxic plants to cattle, a literature review on the subject was carried out. In addition, data from a survey performed in the SPV / HUMV / UFRB files, where two death cattle outbreaks were identified in Recôncavo, including epidemiological data and clinical and pathological findings. Outbreaks identified by SPV occurred in rural properties which contained suitable climate and vegetation to the occurrence of cardiotoxic plants. In one of them, the genus Palicourea was identified by botanists from UEFS herbarium. Clinical aspects and anatomopathological lesions were similar to those described in the current literature. The high mortality rate in cattle associated to plant poisoning, especially those that cause heart malfunctioning, are directly related to the extensive breeding system which allows the access of these animals to newly formed pastures, or access to native forests infested by toxic plants.