Acute renal failure associated with Amaranthus species ingestion by lambs

• Published in: Australian veterinary journal Vol. 93; no. 6; pp. 208 - 213
• Main Authors: Kessell, AE, Boulton, J, Krebs, GL, Quinn, JC
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-06-2015
• Subjects: Acute Kidney Injury - etiology; Acute Kidney Injury - pathology; Acute Kidney Injury - veterinary; Amaranthus - poisoning; Amaranthus spp; Animals; Disease Outbreaks - veterinary; Kidney - pathology; Mortality; nephrotoxin; New South Wales - epidemiology; Plant Poisoning - complications; Plant Poisoning - etiology; Plant Poisoning - pathology; renal failure; Sheep; Sheep Diseases - epidemiology; Sheep Diseases - etiology; Sheep Diseases - pathology; New South Wales; renal failure; Amaranthus spp; nephrotoxin; sheep
• ISSN: 0005-0423; 1751-0813
• DOI: 10.1111/avj.12331

Case report
This report documents an outbreak of acute renal failure in a flock of 9‐month‐old White Suffolk‐cross ewe lambs. The mortality rate was moderate but the morbidity was high. The lambs had grazed a wheat stubble paddock in which there were several weed species, including Amaranthus spp.
Clinical significance
Renal failure in livestock has been reported internationally following the ingestion of Amaranthus spp. and although it has previously been suspected in Australia no cases have been documented. It is important for Australian veterinarians and farmers to realise the toxic potential of this group of plants.