McKenzie R A, Burren B G, Noble J W, Thomas M B
Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries, Biosecurity Sciences Laboratory, Animal Research Institute, Lacked Mail Bag 4, Moorooka, QLD 4105, Australia.
Aust Vet J. 2007 Dec;85(12):505-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2007.00216.x.
A 300-strong Angus-Brahman cattle herd near Springsure, central Queensland, was being fed Acacia shirleyi (lancewood) browse during drought and crossed a 5-hectare, previously burnt area with an almost pure growth of Dysphania glomulifera subspecies glomulifera (red crumbweed) on their way to drinking water. Forty cows died of cyanide poisoning over 2 days before further access to the plant was prevented. A digital image of a plant specimen made on a flat-bed scanner and transmitted by email was used to identify D glomulifera. Specific advice on the plant's poisonous properties and management of the case was then provided by email within 2 hours of an initial telephone call by the field veterinarian to the laboratory some 600 km away. The conventional method using physical transport of a pressed dried plant specimen to confirm the identification took 5 days. D glomulifera was identified in the rumen of one of two cows necropsied. The cyanogenic potential of D glomulifera measured 4 days after collection from the site of cattle deaths was 18,600 mg HCN/kg in dry matter. The lethal dose of D glomulifera for a 420 kg cow was estimated as 150 to 190 g wet weight. The plant also contained 4.8% KNO3 equivalent in dry matter, but nitrate-nitrite poisoning was not involved in the deaths.
昆士兰州中部斯普林苏尔附近一群300头的安格斯-婆罗门牛群，在干旱期间以银荆（枪木）嫩枝为食，在前往饮水点的途中穿过了一片5公顷、此前已被烧毁的区域，那里几乎长满了球花藜（红球藜）。在阻止牛群进一步接触这种植物之前，有40头母牛在两天内死于氰化物中毒。通过平板扫描仪制作并通过电子邮件传输的植物标本数字图像被用于识别球花藜。在距离约600公里外的现场兽医首次致电实验室后的2小时内，就通过电子邮件提供了关于该植物毒性特性及病例处理的具体建议。使用压制干燥植物标本进行实物运输以确认鉴定结果的传统方法需要5天时间。在解剖的两头母牛中的一头瘤胃中发现了球花藜。从牛死亡地点采集4天后测得的球花藜含氰潜力为每千克干物质中含18,600毫克氢氰酸。估计420千克母牛摄入球花藜的致死剂量为150至190克湿重。该植物干物质中还含有4.8%的硝酸钾当量，但牛的死亡与硝酸盐-亚硝酸盐中毒无关。
