Monensin poisoning in buffalo feedlot from Argentina

GARCÍA E; PISTÁN M; LERTORA JAVIER; MASTRANTONIO G; CHOLICH, L

Revista Veterinaria

Vida Correntina

Lugar: Corrientes; Año: 2020 vol. 31 p. 38 - 41

1668 4834

The aim of this paper was to describe a case of accidental monensin poisoning of feedlot domestic buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in northeastern Argentina. Clinical signs included anxiety facie with orthopneic position, teeth grinding, diarrhea, muscular weakness, depression and recumbency. In monensin intoxicated animals, a significant increase of creatine phosphokinase and aspartate aminotransferase was observed. At postmortem examination, buffaloes consistently had pale areas that were irregularly distributed in cardiac and skeletal muscles, hydrothorax, congestion and oedema of the lung. Degeneration and necrosis of the myocardium and skeletal muscle was observed by histological examination. Feed analysis revealed toxic levels of monensin; therefore, ionophore toxicosis was diagnosed. Accordingly, it is required great caution when feeding buffaloes with monensin used as a feed additive.