Lantana

• Ornamental plant introduced into the United States
• Escaped cultivation in southern states
• Recently introduced animals are naive to this plant and may consume it readily

Source:

• Lantana (Lantana camara) and several other Lantana species, which grow in warmer climates
• Popular ornamental in gardens, landscapes
• A shrub that grows 2–4 feet (60–120 cm) tall
• small, colorful flowers
• small berry-like fruit that contains high concentration of toxins

 Species: • Ruminants primarily

Clinical Signs:

• Anorexia
• Ruminal stasis
• Depression
• Icterus
• Dehydration
• Photosensitivity
• Bloody diarrhea
• Necropsy and histopathologic findings.
• icterus
• distended gallbladder
• cholestasis

Toxicity:  • Consumption of 1%–2% of body weight can induce toxicosis.

Mechanism of Action:

• The toxic principles are triterpene acids (polycyclic triterpenoids).
• lantadene A most important of the lantadenes
• lantadene B less important because of lower toxicity
• The mechanism of intoxication is not well understood.
• The lantadenes act on the hepatocytes and on the bile canaliculi to produce necrosis of both cell types direct cytotoxicity influence intermediate metabolic pathways
• and cause hepatic necrosis cholestasis
• The direct cytotoxic effects may be the cause of gastroenteritis.

 Diagnosis

• Clinical signs
• History of consumption of the plant
• Necropsy findings

 Treatment:

 GASTRIC DECONTAMINATION

• Administer activated charcoal therapy.
• Provide fluids to increase movement in the gastrointestinal tract to correct ruminal stasis.
• Plant and toxin can be absorbed over a long time.

SUPPORTIVE AND SYMPTOMATIC

• Provide fluid therapy to reverse dehydration and diarrhea.
• Administer oral fluid replacement therapy.
• Replace ruminal microflora.
• Manage photosensitivity if it occurs.
• Provide shade

. HEROIC MEASURES

• Perform rumenotomy to remove plant material.
• Consider the value of the animal.

PREVENTION

• Treat pastures that contain lantana with herbicides.