Malformações congênitas e abortos induzidos experimentalmente pela ingestão de Poincianella pyramidalis (Tul.) L. P. Queiroz (Catingueira) em ovelhas

Abstract

Sheep breeding in Northeast of Brazil represents an important social and economic role and the economic losses caused by toxic plants in this sector may be indirect as the increase in production costs or direct as the decrease of the reproductive indexes caused mainly due to the occurrence of congenital malformation and abortion. In the Northeast the toxic plants that stand out causing reproductive problems are Mimosa tenuiflora, Aspidosperma pyrifolium and Poincianella pyramidalis. One of the main differential diagnoses of plant poisoning that causes reproductive disorders is the occurrence of infectious agents related to abortion and malformation, as Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii and Blue tongue vírus. P. pyramidalis (catingueira) is described causing abortion, embryonic death and congenital malformations in goats and rats. Main malformations are described in head and limbs. Field studies in the agrarian region of the State of Pernambuco were conducted during the years 2012-2016 and revealed the occurrence of several outbreaks and spontaneous cases of congenital malformations and abortions in sheep associated with poisoning by P. pyramidalis because it is the predominant plant in the properties. As there are no reports in the literature of experimental poisoning by P. pyramidalis in sheep, it is necessary to perform an experiment to confirm its fetotoxic effect, to describe main malformations and doses capable to develop reproductive disorders in the sheep.