Toxicity of the lichen secondary metabolite (+)-usnic acid in domestic sheep

Veterinary Pathology
R N DaileyMerl Raisbeck

Abstract

Toxicity following ingestion of the vagrant, foliose lichen Xanthoparmelia chlorochroa was identified as the putative etiology in the death of an estimated 400-500 elk on the Red Rim-Daley Wildlife Habitat Management Area in Wyoming during the winter of 2004. A single, unsubstantiated report in 1939 attributed toxicity of X. chlorochroa in cattle and sheep to usnic acid, a common lichen secondary metabolite. To test the hypothesis that usnic acid is the proximate cause of death in animals poisoned by lichen, domestic sheep were dosed PO with (+)-usnic acid. Clinical signs in symptomatic ewes included lethargy, anorexia, and signs indicative of abdominal discomfort. Serum creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase activities were considerably elevated in symptomatic sheep. Similarly, only symptomatic ewes exhibited appreciable postmortem lesions consisting of severe degenerative appendicular skeletal myopathy. The median toxic dose (ED(50)) of (+)-usnic acid in domestic sheep was estimated to be between 485 and 647 mg/kg/day for 7 days.

References

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Citations

Nov 11, 2015·Microbiome·Irene Hanning, Sandra Diaz-Sanchez
Nov 2, 2013·Toxicologic Pathology·Yusuke YokouchiToshimasa Jindo
May 3, 2018·Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Patents·Olga A Luzina, Nariman F Salakhutdinov
Dec 25, 2009·Die Naturwissenschaften·Monica A SundsetSvein D Mathiesen
Nov 3, 2017·Chemical Society Reviews·Mark J CalcottJeremy G Owen
Nov 26, 2009·Molecular Psychiatry·S M KurianA B Niculescu
Nov 27, 2008·Journal of Environmental Science and Health. Part C, Environmental Carcinogenesis & Ecotoxicology Reviews·Lei GuoVasilios H Frankos

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