Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

NITRITE POISONING IN SHEEP DUE TO CAPEWEED ( ARCTOTHECA CALENDULA )

1969; Wiley; Volume: 45; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.1751-0813.1969.tb13697.x

1751-0813

J. J. Fairnie,

Botany, Ecology, and Taxonomy Studies

Summary This communication discusses the relationship between capeweed ( Arctotheca calendula ) and nitrite poisoning and reports a case history involving a mob of wethers on an almost pure sward of young rapidly growing capeweed. It is postulated that methaemoglobinaemia resulted from the ingestion of capeweed containing high levels of nitrate quickly enough to overwhelm the normal detoxifying mechanisms of the sheep. A rapid qualitative in vitro test on pasture specimens of capeweed is described, and its use is recommended for quick confirmation of diagnosis on suspected pasture plants.