Crotalaria toxicity occurs most commonly in Southeast US, associated with soybean fields. It affects poultry of all species and all ages. It is caused by the ingestion of food containing crotalaris plant material (above 0.23% of diet containing the alkaloid toxin).
- Causes of Crotalaria toxicity >
- Effects of Crotalaria toxicity >
- Diagnosis of Crotalaria toxicity >
- Treatment & Control of Crotalaria toxicity >
Causes of Crotalaria toxicity
Crotalaria is a toxic weed found in the southeastern part of the US. Poultry of all ages are susceptible to acute to chronic toxicity by ingestion of feed containing seed, leaves or stems of Crotalaria spectabilis. Crotalaria contains an alkaloid toxin, which is toxic to poultry at above 0.3% of the diet.
Special note
The week is common in soybean fields in southeast US and is picked up by mechanical pickers. Soybeans are downgraded if crotalaria are present. Crotalaria can be separated from soybeans by a screening process, but this adds to cost of processing.
Effects of Crotalaria toxicity
Signs include increased thirst, dull, inactive, watery diarrhoea, bright yellow-green urates, off feed and watery discharge from nose and mouth.
Postmortem lesions
Lesions include atrophied liver, ascites, subcutaneous oedema, hydropericardium, lung oedema, nephritis, hepatitis, and myocardial and skeletal haemorrhage.
Diagnosis of Crotalaria toxicity
Diagnosis is by feed analysis. Black mitten-shaped seeds can be seen in the feed. Clinical signs, gross and microscopic lesions are helpful.
Microscopic examination of the liver reveals bile duct hyperplasia.
It simulates salt toxicity, ascites due to metabolic causes, aflatoxicosis, vitamin E or selenium deficiency (exudative diathesis). The seeds are confused with soybean hulls.
Treatment & Control of Crotalaria toxicity
Prevention
Spot check of feed.
Treatment
Fresh feed.
