General poisoning notes:Locoweed (Oxytropis sericea) is a native herb in western Canada. This plant has caused a number of problems in cattle, horses, and sheep. Swainsonine, an indolizidine alkaloid, inhibits alpha-mannosidase in animal bodies, which can lead to disruption of cellular function. Locoism is a chronic disease that causes depression, incoordination, and nervousness under stress. Death can result. The cellular problems occur most readily in tissues of the nervous system. Pregnant animals often abort or give birth to young with congenital deformities. Congestive right heart disease occurs at high altitudes (above 2190 m) in cattle. Right ventricular hypertrophy and dilation, subcutaneous edema, and pulmonary hypertension are significant symptoms (James 1983, Cheeke and Schull 1985, James et al. 1986, Panter et al. 1988). References: Cheeke, P. R., Shull, L. R. 1985. Natural toxicants in feeds and poisonous plants. AVI Publishing Company, Inc., Westport, Conn., USA. 492 pp. James, L. F., Hartley, W. J., Nielsen, D., Allen, S., Panter, K. E. 1986. Locoweed (Oxytropis sericea) poisoning and congestive heart failure in cattle. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc., 189: 1549-1556. James, L. F. 1983. Neurotoxins and other toxins from Astragalus and related genera. Pages 445-462 in Keeler, R. F., Tu, A. T., eds. Handbook of natural toxins. Vol. 1. Plant and Fungal toxins. Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., USA. 934 pp. Panter, K. E., James, L. F., Nielson, D., Molyneux, R. J., Ralphs, M. H. 1988. The relationship of Oxytropis sericea (green and dry) and Astragalus lentiginosus with high mountain disease in cattle. Vet. Hum. Toxicol., 30: 318-323. Ralphs, M. H., James, L. F., Nielsen, D. B., Panter, K. E. 1984. Management practices reduce cattle loss to locoweed on high mountain range. Rangelands, 6: 175-177. Ralphs, M. H., James, L. F., Pfister, J. A. 1986. Utilization of white locoweed (Oxytropis sericea Nutt.) by range cattle. J. Range Manage., 39: 344-347. Nomenclature: Scientific Name: Oxytropis sericea Nutt.
Vernacular name(s): locoweed (Oxytropis sericea) Scientific family name: Leguminosae Vernacular family name: pea Go to ITIS*ca for more taxonomic information on: Oxytropis sericea References: Agriculture Quebec. 1975. Noms des maladies des plantes du Canada/ Names of plant diseases in Canada. , Quebec City, Que., Canada. 288 pp. Alex, J. F., Cayouette, R., Mulligan, G. A. 1980. Common and botanical names of weeds in Canada/Noms populaire et scientifiques des plantes nuisibles du Canada. Revised. Agric. Can. Publ., Ottawa, Ont., Canada. 132 pp. Bailey, L. H., Bailey, E. Z. 1976. Hortus third. Revised. MacMillan, New York, N.Y., USA. 1290 pp. Scoggan, H. J. 1978, 1979. The flora of Canada. Nat. Mus. Nat. Sci. (Ottawa) Publ. Bot. 7(1)-7(4). 1711 pp. Van Wijk, H. L. 1911. A dictionary of plant names.
Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, The Netherlands. 1444 pp. Victorin, M. 1964. Flore Laurentienne. 2nd ed. Univ. Montreal, Montreal, Que., Canada. 952 pp. Geographic Information Alberta
British Columbia
Saskatchewan
Yukon Territory
References: Bailey, L. H., Bailey, E. Z. 1976. Hortus third. Revised. MacMillan, New York, N.Y., USA. 1290 pp. Boivin, B. 1966, 1967. Énumération des plantes du Canada. Provencheria 6. Nat. Can. (Que.) 93: 253-274; 371-437; 583-646; 989-1063. 94: 131-157; 471-528; 625-655. Image or illustration locoweed (Oxytropis sericea): Images: images.google.com Notes on Poisonous plant parts:The blooms and mature fruit of locoweed have higher quantities of the toxin swainsonine than do the leaves. The concentration of this toxin remains constant in leaves throughout the grazing season (Ralphs et al. 1986.) Toxic parts: flowers
leaves
mature fruit
seeds
stems
References: James, L. F., Hartley, W. J., Nielsen, D., Allen, S., Panter, K. E. 1986. Locoweed (Oxytropis sericea) poisoning and congestive heart failure in cattle. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc., 189: 1549-1556. James, L. F. 1983. Neurotoxins and other toxins from Astragalus and related genera. Pages 445-462 in Keeler, R. F., Tu, A. T., eds. Handbook of natural toxins. Vol. 1. Plant and Fungal toxins. Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., USA. 934 pp. Panter, K. E., James, L. F., Nielson, D., Molyneux, R. J., Ralphs, M. H. 1988. The relationship of Oxytropis sericea (green and dry) and Astragalus lentiginosus with high mountain disease in cattle. Vet. Hum. Toxicol., 30: 318-323. Ralphs, M. H., James, L. F., Nielsen, D. B., Panter, K. E. 1984. Management practices reduce cattle loss to locoweed on high mountain range. Rangelands, 6: 175-177. Ralphs, M. H., James, L. F., Pfister, J. A. 1986. Utilization of white locoweed (Oxytropis sericea Nutt.) by range cattle. J. Range Manage., 39: 344-347. Notes on Toxic plant chemicals:Swainsonine, an indolizidine alkaloid, inhibits alpha-mannosidase in the animal''s body. Inhibition results in the accumulation of oligosaccharides in cells because glycosidases remove their respective sugars until a mannose residue is reached. Hydrolysis of the carbohydrate then stops. Eventually disruption of cellular function results. The effect of swainsonine on alpha-mannosidase is reversible when locoweed is no longer consumed. However, advanced clinical signs are irreversible because axon degeneration occurs. The central nervous system is most sensitive to mannose accumulation (Cheeke and Schull 1985). Toxic plant chemicals: slaframine
swainsonine
 Chemical diagram(s) are courtesy of Ruth McDiarmid, Biochemistry Technician, Kamloops Range Station, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kamploops, British Columbia, Canada. References: Cheeke, P. R., Shull, L. R. 1985. Natural toxicants in feeds and poisonous plants. AVI Publishing Company, Inc., Westport, Conn., USA. 492 pp. Molyneux, R. J., James, L. F. 1982. Loco intoxication: indolizidine alkaloids of spotted locoweed (Astragalus lentiginosus). Science (Wash. D. C.), 216: 190-191. Ralphs, M. H., James, L. F., Pfister, J. A. 1986. Utilization of white locoweed (Oxytropis sericea Nutt.) by range cattle. J. Range Manage., 39: 344-347. Animals/Human Poisoning:Note: When an animal is listed without additional information, the literature (as of 1993) contained no detailed explanation. Cattle General symptoms of poisoning:abdominal edema
belligerence
coat, rough and dry
death
depression
diarrhea
duodenum, edema of
eyes, dull
gall bladder, enlarged
incoordination
jaw (lower), edema of
thorax (ventral),edema
throat, edema of
ventrical(right),edema
References: Cheeke, P. R., Shull, L. R. 1985. Natural toxicants in feeds and poisonous plants. AVI Publishing Company, Inc., Westport, Conn., USA. 492 pp. James, L. F., Hartley, W. J., Nielsen, D., Allen, S., Panter, K. E. 1986. Locoweed (Oxytropis sericea) poisoning and congestive heart failure in cattle. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc., 189: 1549-1556. Panter, K. E., James, L. F., Nielson, D., Molyneux, R. J., Ralphs, M. H. 1988. The relationship of Oxytropis sericea (green and dry) and Astragalus lentiginosus with high mountain disease in cattle. Vet. Hum. Toxicol., 30: 318-323. Ralphs, M. H., James, L. F., Nielsen, D. B., Panter, K. E. 1984. Management practices reduce cattle loss to locoweed on high mountain range. Rangelands, 6: 175-177.
Horses General symptoms of poisoning:arthrogryposis
coat, rough and dry
depression
gait, unsteady
incoordination
nervousness
References: James, L. F. 1983. Neurotoxins and other toxins from Astragalus and related genera. Pages 445-462 in Keeler, R. F., Tu, A. T., eds. Handbook of natural toxins. Vol. 1. Plant and Fungal toxins. Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., USA. 934 pp.
Sheep General symptoms of poisoning:abortion
carpal joint, flexure
coat, rough and dry
death
depression
eyes, dull
incoordination
nervousness
recumbency
References: Cheeke, P. R., Shull, L. R. 1985. Natural toxicants in feeds and poisonous plants. AVI Publishing Company, Inc., Westport, Conn., USA. 492 pp.
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