The toxicity of Capparis tomentosa in sheep and calves.

Five Desert sheep and three Zebu calves were poisoned with daily oral doses of the dry leaves of Capparis tomentosa and died or were killed in extremis at various times after the commencement of dosing. The important clinical signs of Capparis poisoning in sheep and calves were weakness of the hind limbs, staggering, swaying, flexion of the fetlock and phalangeal joints, pain in the sacral region, inappetence and recumbency. There was decrease in the level of total protein and calcium and an increase of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), ammonia, sodium and potassium in serum. The main pathological changes were vacuolation of the neurons and axons in the spinal cord, with necrosis of the centrilobular hepatocytes and renal convoluted tubules and glomeruli.