Intoxication by Nerium oleander in cattle: use of immunohistochemistry for troponin C as auxiliary diagnostic method

Abstract

Nerium oleander, also known as “espirradeira” in Brazil, is a shrub or small tree widely used as an ornamental plant in temperate and subtropical regions of the world. Ingestion of N. oleander can cause intoxication due to the presence of cardioactive glycosides, in both humans and animals. This study aims to report the epidemiological, clinical, postmortem, and immunohistochemical features of an outbreak of natural intoxication by N. oleander in cattle and the use of immunohistochemistry (IHC) for troponin C, for the first time, in this intoxication in the species. Twenty-eight cattle had access to pruned branches of N. oleander and 20 animals started presenting clinical signs of apathy, anorexia, ataxia, tachypnea, tremors, and recumbency ten hours after the consumption. Eight cattle progressed to death 48 hours after the clinical progression and one was submitted for necropsy. Macroscopic findings included petechiae and ecchymosis on the epicardium and endocardium. Histologically, there were multifocal areas of necrosis of individual or multiple cardiomyocytes, mainly in the left ventricular papillary muscle. Immunohistochemistry for troponin C revealed decrease or absence of cytoplasmic immunolabeling in necrotic cardiomyocytes. Although intoxication by N. oleander is uncommon in cattle, it should be considered as a differential diagnosis for other conditions that cause sudden or acute death in livestock and IHC for troponin C is an auxiliary tool in the identification of peracute and acute cardiac lesions.