^ SENEEIO MOOBEI MID ADENIA VOLKENSII TOXICOSIS IN ANIMALS ( \ By JAMES AMOS KAHAU, B.Vet.Med. A THESIS Submitted in part fulfilm ent fo r the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in the University of Nairobi Deportment of Veterinary Rithology and Microbiology 1973. ♦ This thesis is my original work and ha3 not been presented for a degree in any other University James Amos Kamau This thesis ins been submitted for examination with our approval as University Supervisors ( ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ u g o r a ) (Dr. J.G. Wandera) Head: Department of Senior Lecturer Veterinary Pathology Department o f Veterinary and Microbiology Pathology and Microbiology UNIVERSITY OP NAIROBI. UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI. external examiner Prof. E. Weis3, Dr.mod.Vet. Professor and Head, Department of Veterinary Pathology Juatus—Liebig Universitaet 65 - Giessen, . INTERNAL E^ZAMINERS Prof. C-.M. Mugera, D ip.Vot.So., Dr. J.G. Wandera, Dip.Vet.Sc. M.Sc., Ph.D. M.Sc., Ph.D Professor and Head, Senior Lecturer Department of Veterinary Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology Pathology and Microbiology UNIVERSITY OP NAIROBI. UNIVERSITY OP NAIROBI. A C K N 0 F L E K B M E N T S : The author wishes to express appreciation to his supervisors, Professor G.M. Mugera and Doctor J.G. Fcndera both members of the Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, for their inva­ luable guidance, support and encouragement throughout this study, .and fo r their careful reading and of constructive criticism of the manuscript Thanks are also due to Mr. C.K. Maitai of Departmsnt of Public Health, Pharmaoology and Toxicology fo r his great assistance in the conduct of chemical analysis and the very valuable discussion we had in the course of these studies. Sincere appreciation go to a l l members of the Department of Pathology and Microbiology of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine for their generosity, consideration and for the tecimical and professional help and guidance. This study m3 supported by grants from University of Nairobi and World Health Organization Grant 652/081. Professor G.M. Mugera made these grants available and the author expresses Ms sincere appreciation. Lastly the author vdshes to express Ms gratitude to Mr. Clement Kahango Mwangi and Miss Irene Kerry for typing the 'thesis. * ♦ C m ) TABLE OP CONTENTS IttGES AC KNOWLEDGEMENTS H i LIST OP TABLES v?.A — v i i i LIST OF FIGURES :u: - x ll SUMMARY z±-± - ;tv PARTS : I . INTRODUCTION............................................................................ 1 - 1 ' Senecio ............................................................................. 2 - 4 Adonic . ................................. 4 - 6 Figures of Part I .......... Between Pages. .......... 7 - 8 H . REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE............................. ......................... 7-38 Section I. Senecio ................ ............................... 8 - 3 3 Section I I . Adonic ....................................................... 33 - 3 8 I I I . EXPEPJQISNTAL STUDIES..................... ......................................... 3 9 - 1 0 4 (n) Senecio noorei Toxicosis in Animals ...................... 39 - 7 6 Experiment I . Rat........ .................................................. 39 - 51 (i) Acute Senecio noorei Poisoning in Rets........ 4 0 - 4 6 (ii) Chronic Senecio noorei Poisoning in Rats... 46-51 Experiment I I Bovine ............ ...................................... 52 - 60 Experiment I I I . Swine.................................. ............ 6 0 - 6 5 DISCUSSION FOR PART III (a ) .............................................. 66 - 70 Tables of Part HI (a) ................. 71 - 76 Figures of Part III (a) .................. Between P fig e s ..... 76 - 77 (b) Adenia volkcnsi^. Toxicqjsis in Animals........ .......... 77 - 90 Experiment I . Rat .......................................................... 77 - 8 1 (It ) PAGES Experiment I I . Rabbit ............................................................ 81 - 84 Experiment III* Sheep ........................................................... 84 - 90 DISCUSSION FOR PART IH (b ) ........................................................ 90 - 94 Tables of Part III (b ) ................................................................... 95 - 104 Figures of Part III (b) .....Between Pages.................. .. 104 - 105 preliminary investigation of the chemical compounds PRESENT IN: (a) Senecio moorei R.E. F r ie s ..................................................... 105 - 109 Materials and Methods ....................................................... 105 - 109 Extraction Procedure................ ............................... 106 - 107 Examination for Bases (alkaloids) Acids and Neutrals Isolated From Senecio Material Using Thin Layer Chromatographic Technique ........................................................................... 107 - 109 Results ..................................................................................... 109^ (b ) Adenia volkensii Harms ........................................................... 109 - 118 Materials and Methods ...................................... ................ 109 - 112 (a) Qualitative Determination of Cyanide.................. 110 (b) Quantitative Estimation of Cyanide in Fresh M aterial.................................................... 111 - 112 (c) Efx'ect of boiling Tissue on the Cyanide Content 112 , ♦ Results 112 - 113 PAGES DISCUSSION FOR PART IV.................................... 113 - 115 Tables of Part IV.............................................. 116 ■ 118 Figures of Part IV............... Betv/ocn Pages 118 ■ 119 GENERAL SUMMARY............................................................ 1 1 9 / APPENDICES "A" and "B" . .Between Pages 119 • 120 REFERENCES CITED 120 - 131 LIST OF TABLES table page 1 . Weight Changes (in Gm.) in Rats Feci on Varying Percentages of Senecio P ow der.............................. 71 2. Amount of Senecio Powder Mixture Consumed by Each Rat During the Experimental Period.............................. 72 3. Mortality in Rats Poisoned With Low C oncentration of Senecio Po\7der in the Diets................................ .. 73 4 . Body Wei^at Changes (in Kg.) and Total Weekly Amo­ unts of Senecio Powder consumed by Bull Calves.... 74 5. Body Weight Changes, Liver,Kidney and Spleen Weights of Pig Fed 20$ Senecio Powder....................... 75 6. Blood, Alkaline Phosphatase (A.P.), Total Protein and Copper Values in Pigs Fed 20$ Senecio Powder.. 76 7. Daily Mortality of Rats Fed on Varying Percentages of Adenia Powder................... 95 8. Weight Changes in Rats Fed on Varying Percentages of Adenia Powder............... 96 9. Weight Changes and Total Arnounta o f Adenia Extract Given to Each Experimental Rabbit............................. 97 10. Amount o f Adenia Powder Given to Each Sheep and Duration That Each Sheep Lived After Drenching..... 98 11. Daily Temperature Readings in Sheep After Injection With Adenia Extract........................................... 99 12. Daily Pulse Rate in Sheep After Injection with Adenia E xtract.................................................................. 100 13. Daily Respiration Rate in Sheep After Injection with Adenia Extract ............................................................... 101 14. Serum Glutamic Oxalacetic Transaminase Values in Sheep Injected with Adenia E x tra ct............................ 102 15. Serum Glutamic Pyrtivlo Transaminase Values in Sheep In je cted With Adenia Extract...................... 103 16, Alkaline Phosphatase Levels in Sheep Injected With Adenia E xtra ct.. / ........ t ................................................. 104 ( » u ) PAGE. 17. Quantitative Estimation o f Cyanide in Adenia v o lk E n s ii..................... .. ....................................... ............ .. ±±q 18. Total Amount o f Cyanide in Adenia v o lte n sii................ 117 19. Effect of Boiling of Plant Tissue on Cyanide Content. 118 LIST OF FIGURES Figure Between Pages l(a) Map of Kenya, showing provincial boundaries and areas where Senecio moorei and Adenia volkensii were colle­ cte d ......................................................................... .................. 7 - 8 (b) Map of Kenya shoving geographical distribution of Se­ necio moorei and Adenia v o lte n s ii........ ............................. 7 - 8 2. Senecio moorei S.E, Fries (Mau-Norok ragwort)............... 7 - 8 3. Adenia volte nsii Harms (KLliambiti) .............................. .. 7 - 8 4. C ontr dobular haemorrhage in the liver of rat fed 20$ Senecio powder for 13 days. H&E Stain: X 156 ......... 76 - 77 5. Centrolobular necrosis in the liver of rat fed 10$ Senecio powder for 28 days. H&E Stain: X 156.............. 76 - 77 6. Large hepatic cells (megalocytes). Liver section of a rat fed Senecio powder fo r 44 days. H&E StainOC391. • 76 - 77 7. A largo globule (g) in the nuclauaof hepatic cell of a rat fed 10$ Senecio powder for 38 days. H&E Stain: X 625............................................................................................. 76 - 77 8. Cytoplasmic vacuolation. Fatty degeneration in the liv e r of a rat fed 20$ Senecio powder for 15 days. WE Stain: X 156 ........................................................................ 76 - 77 9« Empty spaces corresponding in size to enlarged paren­ chymal cells, containing nothing. Higher power of Fig. 8. H£E Stain: X 391 .................................................... 76 - 77 10. Hyaline casts (H3) in the convoluted tihules o f kidn­ ey of a rat fed