CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Title: Micrographic analysis of ruminal content, an important diagnostic tool in veterinary cases Name: Verolo Magalí, Pérez Cuadra Vanesa and Cambi VivianaUniversidad Nacional del Sur, INBIOSUR. San Juan 670, 8000 Bahía Blanca, ArgentinaThe identification of vegetables used as food for herbivores can be realized by means of parameters of micrographical identification, established by analysis of genuine material. These parameters can be applied, also, to the resolution of veterinary problems caused by ingestion of toxic or contaminated vegetables, turning into a valuable resource in a group of interdisciplinary study. The aim of this work was to prove the value of micrographical tools to study the ruminal content of Tragelaphus strepsiceros, an antelope Great Kudu, and of Blastocerus dichotomus a deer of the marshes (both belonging to Foundation Temaikén; the last one in the frame of the protocol of rescue implemented from OPDS), died suddenly without previous convalescence. Various subsamples were taken from the dry ruminal content, being processed and mounted using traditional techniques, and studied under optical microscope. The results showed specific epidermal type cells of leaves of Poaceae and various Eudicotyledoneae including hairs and phytoliths. This analysis allowed to recognize for the antelope: tricellular trichomes of rough surface with triangular apical cell and basal rosette belonging to Wedelia glauca, a toxic weed with an hepatotoxic terpenoid, which is a serious threat when consumed by animals. In the ruminal content of the deer diagnostic elements agreed with the species used as food and although none of them suggested a toxicological risk for the animal, a severe infection with Claviceps paspali was detected in the inflorescences of Paspalum dilatatum making an alert on a possible mycotoxin intoxication.