Experimental Oriental Hybrid Lilies (Lilium Hybrids) Poisoning in Cats

Abstract

The pathophysiology of Oriental hybrid lilies poisoning in cats was studied. Clinically normal eighteen domestic shorthair cats were orally dosed with 0, 1.5, 2.5 g wet weight of homogenate lily flower petals per kg body weight by a nasogastric tube in the study (n=3/sex/dose level). Blood and urine samples were collected before and after dosing. The cats of all treated groups presented anorexia, vomiting, lethargy and depression within 0.5 h after dosing. Serum levels of Alanine transaminase (ALT), Aspartate transaminase (AST), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Glutamyl transferase (GGT), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Creatinine (CREA), Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and Creatine kinase (CK) were increased in all treated groups in a dose-dependent manner. Severe hepatocellular vacuolation was present in the cats of 2.5 g/kg group. Mild and diffuse vacuolar degeneration was observed in the renal tubule epithelium of cortex and medulla in the cats of the same group. This study indicated that oriental hybrid lily is hepatotoxic to cats, associated with some effects on myocardium and kidneys.