Evaluation of the Use of Goats as an Animal Model in Solanum malacoxylon Toxicity: Growing Goats and Prenatal Study

Solanum malacoxylon a toxic plant contains a glycoside conjugated to Vitamin D3 that promotes in cattle a calcinogenic disease characterized by weight loss, stiffened, painful gait, hypercalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, and mineralization of soft tissues. The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxic effects of S.malacoxylon on ruminant species, the goat, with similar digestive physiology and placentation to bovines, however this animal species is easier and cheaper to maintain and presenting gestation period shorter than bovines. Two trials were performed, in the first one, male growing goats were placed in two groups, experimental animals received S.malacoxylon (200mg/ kg/BW/day). In the second trial, pregnant goats were allocated in four groups: control and three experimental that received 12.5, 25.0 and 50.0 mg/kg/BW of S.malacoxylon. Animals treated with the plant, from both trials, showed rigid walking, lower body weight, increase in serum calcium, phosphorus and effects on alkaline phosphatase. Kids from pregnant treated with S malacoxylon had lower birth weight. At necropsy was observed calcification of cardiac valves, cardiac muscle and arteries in growing goats, mothers and their kids. Histopathological study showed alteration on extracellular matrix and calcium deposition on soft tissues. These results permit to verify that goats are a good animal model for studying the plant intoxication, once it was possible to reproduce all effects described in natural condition in cattle. The toxic components of S.malacoxylon can affect both, dams and fetuses, from ruminants and this form of intoxication may account for the heavy losses in the cattle industry.