Abstract It is well known that several of the swainsonine-containing plant species found widespread around the world have a negative economic impact in each country. In Argentina, most of the information on the poisonous plant species that produce α-mannosidosis is published in Spanish and thus not available to most English-speaking researchers interested in toxic plants. Therefore, the aim of this review is to summarize the information about swainsonine-containing plants in Argentina, which are extensively distributed throughout different ecoregions of the country. To date, five species from three genera have been shown to induce α-mannosidosis in livestock in Argentina: Ipomoea carnea subsp. fistulosa, Ipomoea hieronymi subsp. calchaquina (Convolvulaceae), Astragalus garbancillo, Astragalus pehuenches (Fabaceae), and Sida rodrigoi (Malvaceae). These species contain the indolizidine alkaloid swainsonine, which inhibits the lysosomal enzyme α-mannosidase and consequently affects glycoprotein metabolism, resulting in partially metabolized sugars. The prolonged consumption of these poisonous plants produces progressive weight loss and clinical signs related to a nervous disorder, characterized by tremors of head and neck, abnormalities of gait, difficulty in standing, ataxia and wide-based stance. Histological lesions are mainly characterized by vacuolation of different cells, especially neurons of the central nervous system. The main animal model used to study α-mannosidosis is the guinea pig because, when experimentally poisoned, it exhibits many of the characteristics of naturally intoxicated livestock.

Background and aims: Heterophyllaea pustulata (Rubiaceae) grows in northwestern Argentina. It has livestock importance because it produces photosensitization in the cattle that consume it. That is why it is proposed to study the foliar and caulinar morpho-anatomy of the species in order to determine structural characters that facilítate the identification of the plant. M&M: Leaves and stems of young adult plants and seedlings obtained through in vitro cultures were taken and studied by conventional histological techniques. Images obtained with optical and scanning electron microscopy are presented. Results: The results indicate that the studied species have morphological and anatomical characters similar to other species of Rubiaceae, although it presents others that were not previously described, such as the structure of the epidermis with striated cuticle and the anatomy of the stem. Conclusions: It is found that the diagnostic characters that facilitate the identification of the plant are: microdenticulated margin of the lamina, epidermis with striated cuticle in leaves and young stems, simple eglandular trichomes, mesophyll with raphides and druses, in addition to the lysigenous cavities in all the organs of the plant.

Introducción y Objetivos: Heterophyllaea pustulata (Rubiaceae) crece en el noroeste argentino. Tiene importancia ganadera debido a que produce fotosensibilización en el ganado que la consume. Es por ello que se plantea estudiar la morfoanatomía foliar y caulinar de la especie con el objeto de determinar caracteres estructurales que faciliten la identificación de la planta. M&M: Se estudiaron hojas y tallos de plantas adultas jóvenes y plántulas obtenidas a través de cultivos in vitro, mediante técnicas histológicas convencionales. Se presentan imágenes obtenidas con microscopio óptico y electrónico de barrido. Resultados: Los resultados indican que la especie estudiada comparte caracteres morfológicos y anatómicos con otras especies de Rubiaceae, aunque presenta otras que no fueron descritas anteriormente, tales como la epidermis con cutícula estriada y la anatomia del tallo. Conclusiones: Los caracteres diagnósticos que facilitan la identificación de la especie son: margen microdenticulado de la lámina, epidermis con cutícula estriada en hojas y tallos jóvenes, tricomas simples eglandulares, mesófilo con rafidios y drusas, además de las cavidades lisígenas en todos los órganos de la planta.

ABSTRACT: A retrospective analysis (2000 to 2013) of cattle poisoning caused by toxic plants and other compounds was carried out in the Pampas region of Argentina by the Animal Health Group of INTA-EEA, Balcarce. During this period, 1263 reports of diseases of different etiologies (infectious, parasitic, toxic, metabolic and miscellaneous) were recorded in cattle, by collecting anamnestic, clinical and pathological information. A toxic etiology was diagnosed in 21.1% of these reports. Iatrogenic poisoning caused by ionophores was the most frequently recorded etiology. Consumption of toxic plants (Wedelia glauca, Solanum glaucophyllum, among others), mycotoxins (Claviceps purpurea, Claviceps paspali, Epichloë coenophiala, among others), and plants producing cyanide and nitrates/nitrites were also commonly diagnosed. The high frequency of toxic episodes and the difficulties in their diagnosis by practitioners in our livestock production systems emphasizes the importance of this report.