Chinaberry tree (Melia azedarach) poisoning in dog: a case report.

This article describes a case of Chinaberry tree poisoning diagnosed in a dog. The initial clinical signs were variable and included tremors (muscular seizures) and a moderate limp in the dog's back leg, which evolved to a more severe condition in the following hours. Abdominal radiographic evaluation was requested, and abundant small, foreign, radio-dense bodies were detected, which were associated with Chinaberry tree fruits after surgical extraction. Adequate treatment was established, and the patient recovered completely. In addition, we compare clinical and gross postmortem findings in other similar cases reported in the literature. There is a general lack of information of such poisoning in pets.

Human Melia azedarach poisoning.

INTRODUCTION: In traditional Chinese medicine, Melia azedarach (Ku-lian) is used orally and topically as an antiparasitic and antifungal agent. Although toxicity of this plant has been widely described in veterinary literature, human poisoning is rarely reported. We describe five patients with M. azedarach poisoning who recovered with supportive care. CASE SERIES: Five patients were identified retrospectively from the database of the Taiwan National Poison Center at the Taipei Veterans General Hospital. Three cases were on-site patients, and two were telephone consultations from outside hospitals. Neurological symptoms were the major manifestation in four cases: weakness, myalgia, numbness, and ptosis. Treatment was symptomatic and supportive; all patients recovered without sequelae. DISCUSSION: It is not known which limonoids are responsible for human toxicity. In the Chinese medical literature, human M. azedarach poisoning is said to occur if six to nine fruits, 30 to 40 seeds, or 400 g of the bark is consumed. Onset of symptoms typically occurs within 4-6 h, but as short as 0.5 h had been documented. In our patients, the onset of M. azedarach poisoning was variable, ranging from a few hours to up to 3 weeks after consumption of the herb. CONCLUSIONS: M. azedarach poisoning may result in gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, respiratory, or neurological effects, and death in severe cases.

Intoxication of cattle by the fruits of Melia azedarach.

Melia azedarach fruits were administered at single doses ranging from 5 to 30 g/kg bw to 10 calves. The animals dosed with 25 g/kg bw and 30 g/ kg bw died, as well as 1/2 cattle that received 15 g/kg bw. Clinical signs were depression, ruminal stasis, anorexia, diarrhea, incoordination, muscle tremors, difficulty to stand, sternal recumbence, hypothermia and dyspnea. Serum AST and CPK were increased. Signs appeared 4 to 24 h after dosing and the clinical manifestations continued for 20 to 72 h. Macroscopic findings included congestion of the intestine, focal or diffuseyellow discoloration of the liver, and brain congestion. LiQuid content was in rumen, reticulum and intestines. The liver had swollen and vacuolated hepatocytes, and necrotic hepatocytes were scattered throughout the parenchyma or concentrated in the periacinar zone. Degenerative and necrotic changes were in the epithelium of the forestomachs. There was also necrosis of lymphoid tissue. Skeletal muscles had hyaline degeneration and fiber necrosis.