Fragility of erythrocytes in animals affected by lantana poisoning.

Clinical observations on four male cow calves and three other lantana poisoned animals under field conditions have been made along with hematological studies, including observations on plasma bilirubin content and osmotic fragility of erythrocytes. Four healthy male cow calves served as control. Five clinically advanced cases succumbed within 1 to 10 days of observation. Hematocrit values in four of the seven affected animals were abnormally high. The total plasma bilirubin content in the fatal cases was of the order of 5 to 50 times the normal value while, in calves that recovered, it was not more than 3 times. The osmotic fragility of erythrocytes was measured by the rate of hemolysis in decreasing concentrations of saline. The erythrocytes of normal animals resisted hemolysis till the saline concentration was lowered to 0.60%, and it was complete at the low saline concentration of 0.30%. However, in lantana poisoned animals, hemolysis started even in 0.72% saline and was complete at a saline concentration of 0.44%. The hemolysis curves of animals that died were far removed from the normal, but those of the calves that recovered and the one that died but had the lowest bilirubin content closely approached the normal curve.