Original Research
Microscopic morphology of Dichapetalum cymosum (Hook.) Engl. as an aid in the identification of leaf fragments from the digestive tract of poisoned animals
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association | Vol 77, No 4 | a377 |
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/jsava.v77i4.377
| © 2006 D. Van der Merwe, L. Du Plessis
| This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 11 June 2006 | Published: 11 June 2006
Submitted: 11 June 2006 | Published: 11 June 2006
About the author(s)
D. Van der Merwe,L. Du Plessis,
Full Text:
PDF (692KB)Abstract
Dichapetalum cymosum (Hook.) Engl. (Poison leaf; gifblaar) is a major cause of acute livestock plant poisoning in southern Africa. Microscopic identification of leaf fragments found in the digestive tract of poisoned animals can assist in the diagnosis of poisoning when D. cymosum poisoning is suspected. The microscopic morphology of D. cymosum leaves are described using standard staining and microscopy methods for histopathology samples at many regional diagnostic laboratories. Morphological descriptions included structures in the epidermis and mesophyll that were discernible using H & E staining. The microscopic morphology of D. cymosum was used to differentiate between leaf fragments of D. cymosum and other species from the same habitat with macroscopic features that resemble those of D. cymosum, including Euclea crispa, Combretum zeyheri, Burkea afrikana and Lannea discolor.
Keywords
Burkea Africana; Combretum Zeyheri; Dichapetalum Cymosum; Euclea Crispa; Lannea Discolor; Plant Poisoning; Monofluoroacetate; Rumen Content Microscopy
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