Investigations into the toxicity of the leaves of Erythrophleum guineense Don. in sheep.

An investigation was carried out on the toxicity of the leaves of Erythrophleum guineense Don. in sheep. Four groups of two animals each were fed 8, 2, 0.5 and 0.25 g/kg/day, respectively, of dried ground leaves of E guineense through a stomach tube. Two animals served as controls and received 8 g/kg/day of ground grass hay through a stomach tube. Animals which received 8 g/kg of E guineense died within 3 h; those which received 2 g/kg died within 18 h, while those which received 0.5 and 0.25 g/kg developed clinical signs after being fed for two to four days and died between two and 14 days. Clinical signs observed were coma and convulsions in animals which died within 18 h. Animals which died after several days of sickness had signs of depression, dyspnoea, groaning, trembling of hind limbs, strong heart beat and severe dysentery. Pathological changes observed post mortem were varied and occurred in a number of organs.