Intoxicação e uso racional da Prosopis juliflora: casos espontâneos em bovinos e caprinos no estado da Bahia

Abstract

The objective of this study was to describe the occurrence of outbreaks of spontaneous intoxication due to the consumption of Prosopis juliflora (“mesquite beans”) pods in cattle and goats in the state of Bahia, as well as to guide producers on management measures and rational use of this plant. Data relating to epidemiology, history and clinical signs were obtained from the owners or the responsible veterinarian. Two outbreaks were recorded in goats, one outbreak (S1) occurring in May 2011 at a farm located in the municipality of Juazeiro and affected a herd of 150 goats, and the outbreak two (S2) occurring in February 2015 at municipality of Iaçu and reached a herd of 20 goats. Outbreak three (S3) and four (S4) occurred in cattle, where in S3 occurred in July and September of 2014, in a rural property located in the municipality of Tucano and affected a herd formed by 30 heads, the S4 happened in August of 2016, in a property located in Santa Terezinha, composed by a herd of 110 animals. Subsequently, three outbreaks (SR) were reported by rural producers, occurring in three distinct properties, located in the western region of the state, precisely in the cities of Barra, Ibipeba and Tabocas, where the three herds together supported 110 cattle. In the outbreaks studied, the clinical findings (S1, S2, S3, S4 and SR) and histopathological findings (S1, S2 and S3) were compatible with algaroba intoxication. Thus, outbreaks of natural intoxication by algaroba occurred in cattle and goats in the state of Bahia in areas not yet mapped, and this intoxication was proven for the first time based on necroscopic and histopathological exams.