Grayanotoxin I Intoxication in Pet Pigs

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Toxicology
• Animal Pathology

Background:

• Grayanotoxin intoxication commonly affects humans via honey and animals via plants like Rhododendron.
• Pieris japonica, an Ericaceae family plant, is a known source of grayanotoxins.

Observation:

• Two pet miniature pigs presented with acute signs of grayanotoxin intoxication, including pale oral mucosa, tachycardia, tachypnea, hypersalivation, tremor, and ataxia.
• Pathological examination revealed Pieris japonica plant material in the intestine as the primary finding.

Findings:

• Grayanotoxin I was confirmed in the ingested plant material and various tissues and fluids (gastric content, blood, liver, bile, kidney, urine, lung, skeletal muscle) using HPLC-MS/MS.
• The clinical signs and pathological findings strongly implicated Pieris japonica ingestion.

Implications:

• Grayanotoxin I intoxication should be considered in the differential diagnosis for pigs exhibiting non-specific clinical signs.
• Identifying ingested plant material, specifically Pieris japonica, is a key diagnostic indicator in suspected cases of grayanotoxin poisoning in pigs.