Pollen beetle (Astylus atromaculatus)-associated gastroenteric disease in cattle: report of 6 natural outbreaks

Astylus atromaculatus is a pollen beetle native to South America, commonly found in crop flowers. Experimental intoxication of sheep and guinea pigs by this beetle resulting in fibrinonecrotizing enteritis has been reported. We describe here 6 natural outbreaks of intoxication in cattle associated w...

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Main Authors: Garcia, Juan Agustin, Livio, Juan, Matto, Carolina, Dutra, Fernando, Scioli, Maria Valeria, Giannitti, Federico, Langston, James, Poppenga, Robert, Canton, German Jose, Uzal, Francisco
Format: Artículo
Language:Inglés
Published: SAGE Publications 2023
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/16091
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10406387231215756
https://doi.org/10.1177/10406387231215
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author Garcia, Juan Agustin
Livio, Juan
Matto, Carolina
Dutra, Fernando
Scioli, Maria Valeria
Giannitti, Federico
Langston, James
Poppenga, Robert
Canton, German Jose
Uzal, Francisco
author_browse Canton, German Jose
Dutra, Fernando
Garcia, Juan Agustin
Giannitti, Federico
Langston, James
Livio, Juan
Matto, Carolina
Poppenga, Robert
Scioli, Maria Valeria
Uzal, Francisco
author_facet Garcia, Juan Agustin
Livio, Juan
Matto, Carolina
Dutra, Fernando
Scioli, Maria Valeria
Giannitti, Federico
Langston, James
Poppenga, Robert
Canton, German Jose
Uzal, Francisco
author_sort Garcia, Juan Agustin
collection INTA Digital
description Astylus atromaculatus is a pollen beetle native to South America, commonly found in crop flowers. Experimental intoxication of sheep and guinea pigs by this beetle resulting in fibrinonecrotizing enteritis has been reported. We describe here 6 natural outbreaks of intoxication in cattle associated with consumption of alfalfa (5 of 6) and mixed native (1 of 6) pastures heavily contaminated with A. atromaculatus. The outbreaks occurred during the summer (January–February) of 2023 in Argentina (n = 4) and Uruguay (n = 2), in beef cattle under extensive or semi-extensive rearing systems, with overall cumulative incidence and mortality of 22.3% and 17.8%, respectively. The main clinical signs included acute onset of anorexia, lethargy, hyperthermia, hindlimb weakness, reluctance to move, and diarrhea, for up to 15 d. In 2 outbreaks, sudden death was observed. Eight Hereford, Angus, and/or crossbreed heifers, cows, steers, and/or calves were autopsied. Gross and microscopic findings included multifocal necrosis with fibrinous pseudomembranes in the forestomachs and/or small and large intestines. Fragments or whole specimens of A. atromaculatus were identified in the ruminal content of all animals. Testing for multiple gastroenteric pathogens was negative as was testing of A. atromaculatus for cantharidin and batrachotoxin. GC-MS and LC-MS/MS performed on the beetles did not identify any known toxic compounds. Based on the exposure to A. atromaculatus–contaminated pasture, gross and microscopic lesions, and negative results of all testing for multiple gastroenteric pathogens, a diagnosis of intoxication by A. atromaculatus is proposed. Disease caused by A. atromaculatus consumption has not been reported previously in cattle, to our knowledge.
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spelling INTA160912023-12-01T09:54:14Z Pollen beetle (Astylus atromaculatus)-associated gastroenteric disease in cattle: report of 6 natural outbreaks Garcia, Juan Agustin Livio, Juan Matto, Carolina Dutra, Fernando Scioli, Maria Valeria Giannitti, Federico Langston, James Poppenga, Robert Canton, German Jose Uzal, Francisco Ganado Bovino Enfermedad Intestinal Enterítis Cattle Coleoptera Intestinal Diseases Enteritis Astylus Atromaculatus Astylus atromaculatus is a pollen beetle native to South America, commonly found in crop flowers. Experimental intoxication of sheep and guinea pigs by this beetle resulting in fibrinonecrotizing enteritis has been reported. We describe here 6 natural outbreaks of intoxication in cattle associated with consumption of alfalfa (5 of 6) and mixed native (1 of 6) pastures heavily contaminated with A. atromaculatus. The outbreaks occurred during the summer (January–February) of 2023 in Argentina (n = 4) and Uruguay (n = 2), in beef cattle under extensive or semi-extensive rearing systems, with overall cumulative incidence and mortality of 22.3% and 17.8%, respectively. The main clinical signs included acute onset of anorexia, lethargy, hyperthermia, hindlimb weakness, reluctance to move, and diarrhea, for up to 15 d. In 2 outbreaks, sudden death was observed. Eight Hereford, Angus, and/or crossbreed heifers, cows, steers, and/or calves were autopsied. Gross and microscopic findings included multifocal necrosis with fibrinous pseudomembranes in the forestomachs and/or small and large intestines. Fragments or whole specimens of A. atromaculatus were identified in the ruminal content of all animals. Testing for multiple gastroenteric pathogens was negative as was testing of A. atromaculatus for cantharidin and batrachotoxin. GC-MS and LC-MS/MS performed on the beetles did not identify any known toxic compounds. Based on the exposure to A. atromaculatus–contaminated pasture, gross and microscopic lesions, and negative results of all testing for multiple gastroenteric pathogens, a diagnosis of intoxication by A. atromaculatus is proposed. Disease caused by A. atromaculatus consumption has not been reported previously in cattle, to our knowledge. EEA Balcarce Fil: García, Juan Agustin. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina. Fil: Livio, Juan M. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina. Fil: Matto, Carolina. Ministerio de Ganadería, Agricultura y Pesca. Laboratorio Regional Noroeste; Uruguay. Fil: Dutra, Fernando. Laboratorio Regional Este; Uruguay. Fil: Scioli, María Valeria. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina. Fil: Giannitti, Federico. Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria. Estación Experimental La Estanzuela; Uruguay. Fil: Langston, James. University of California. School of Veterinary Medicine; Estados Unidos. Fil: Poppenga, Robert H. University of California. School of Veterinary Medicine; Estados Unidos. Fil: Cantón, Germán José. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina. Fil: Uzal, Francisco. University of California. School of Veterinary Medicine; Estados Unidos. 2023-12-01T09:45:22Z 2023-12-01T09:45:22Z 2023-11-29 info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/16091 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10406387231215756 1040-6387 (Print) 1943-4936 (Online) https://doi.org/10.1177/10406387231215 eng info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) application/pdf SAGE Publications Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation : 1-8 (First published online November 29, 2023)
spellingShingle Ganado Bovino
Enfermedad Intestinal
Enterítis
Cattle
Coleoptera
Intestinal Diseases
Enteritis
Astylus Atromaculatus
Garcia, Juan Agustin
Livio, Juan
Matto, Carolina
Dutra, Fernando
Scioli, Maria Valeria
Giannitti, Federico
Langston, James
Poppenga, Robert
Canton, German Jose
Uzal, Francisco
Pollen beetle (Astylus atromaculatus)-associated gastroenteric disease in cattle: report of 6 natural outbreaks
title Pollen beetle (Astylus atromaculatus)-associated gastroenteric disease in cattle: report of 6 natural outbreaks
title_full Pollen beetle (Astylus atromaculatus)-associated gastroenteric disease in cattle: report of 6 natural outbreaks
title_fullStr Pollen beetle (Astylus atromaculatus)-associated gastroenteric disease in cattle: report of 6 natural outbreaks
title_full_unstemmed Pollen beetle (Astylus atromaculatus)-associated gastroenteric disease in cattle: report of 6 natural outbreaks
title_short Pollen beetle (Astylus atromaculatus)-associated gastroenteric disease in cattle: report of 6 natural outbreaks
title_sort pollen beetle astylus atromaculatus associated gastroenteric disease in cattle report of 6 natural outbreaks
topic Ganado Bovino
Enfermedad Intestinal
Enterítis
Cattle
Coleoptera
Intestinal Diseases
Enteritis
Astylus Atromaculatus
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/16091
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10406387231215756
https://doi.org/10.1177/10406387231215
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