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Geeldikkop: preservation of toxic material
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association
|March 1, 1978
Summary
Rapid freezing effectively preserves the toxicity of wilted Tribulus terrestris plants. Frozen plants, stored for six weeks, induced geeldikkop in a sheep, confirming the preservation method.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Toxicology
- Plant Science
Background:
- Geeldikkop is a serious disease affecting livestock, often linked to plant toxicity.
- Tribulus terrestris has been implicated as a potential causative agent.
Observation:
- Wilted Tribulus terrestris plants were collected from an area with a recent geeldikkop outbreak.
- Various methods were tested to preserve the plants' toxic properties.
Findings:
- Rapid freezing was the only successful method for preserving the toxicity of harvested Tribulus terrestris.
- Sheep dosed with rapidly frozen plants (stored for six weeks) developed characteristic geeldikkop symptoms and lesions.
Implications:
- This finding is crucial for further research into geeldikkop pathogenesis and control.
- Effective preservation allows for standardized toxin studies and development of diagnostic tools.