ABSTRACT
An outbreak of possible acute poisoning by Sinapis arvensis occurred in a flock of 50 fat-tailed sheep located in the Semnan province of Iran. Sinapis arvensis is an annual or winter annual plant of the genus Sinapis in the family Brassicaceae, commonly known as field mustard, wild mustard or charlock. The poisonous constituents are volatile oil of mustard, the alkaloid sinapin, and the alkaloidal glucoside sinalbin. The flock was grazing in land containing high amounts of wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis) in late spring. Seven sheep (aged between 1 and 5 years) died within approximately 3 days. The affected animals displayed signs of depression, reluctance to move, tachycardia, tachypnea, mucoid and hemorrhagic nasal discharges, pale conjunctiva, ataxia, abdominal pain, bruxism, and anorexia. Rectal temperature in these animals was normal to high (39-41.5 °C). Ruminal movements were reduced (1-2/min). Serum biochemical levels in affected sheep showed marked increases of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), Gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), magnesium (Mg), and phosphorous (P) and a marked decrease in calcium (Ca). In urinalysis, marked hemoglobinuria and proteinuria were observed. Necropsy findings included congestion in lungs and hemorrhage on the epicardial and endocardial heart surfaces, on the surface and medulla of the kidneys, and abomasal mucosa. The liver was also congested with a nutmeg pattern. Rumen contents included digested materials and large quantities of seeds and stems of wild mustard. For the first time, our findings confirmed wild mustard toxicosis in sheep in Iran.
Subject(s)
Laboratories , Sinapis , Animals , Iran , SheepABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Scrophularia striata water extract on the quality and shelf life of the rainbow trout fillet during superchilled storage. Fish samples were treated with 1% and 3% S. striata water extract and then stored at -2°C for 20 days. The samples were analyzed periodically for chemical, microbial and sensory characteristics. Results indicated that incorporation of S. striata water extract on rainbow fillets caused the delay of lipid peroxidation and hydrolytic spoilage in 3% treated sample in comparison with the control sample at the last day of the experiment (P<0.05). Moreover, fish fillets containing 3% S. striata water extract showed lower bacterial count than the control and 1% water extract supplemented samples (P<0.05) during the experiment. According to sensory analysis results, 3% treated samples were acceptable even at the end of the 20-day storage. It was concluded that the effect of S. striata extract on fish samples was to retain their good quality characteristics and extend the shelf life during superchilled storage.
