Determination of the oral toxicity of Sesbania drummondii seeds in chickens.

Extracts of Sesbania drummondii administered to chickens by oral intubation are lethal within several days. Effects are dose-dependent; a dose of 1% of body weight is uniformly lethal in 5 days. Signs of poisoning include weakness, depression (CNS), anorexia, diarrhea, ruffled feathers, cold feet, and rapid loss of body weight. Microscopic examination indicates damage to kidney glomeruli and leakage of protein into the kidney tubules. Packed cell volume and plasma glucose concentrations show no difference between controls and treated chickens; however, creatine kinase is increased and plasma cholinesterase and total plasma protein values are severely depressed in poisoned birds. Neither a specific toxin nor a mechanism of action for toxicity has yet been identified.