Com o objetivo de melhor caracterizar o quadro clínico na intoxicação experimental por Stryphnodendron obovatum Benth., procedeu-se a administração das favas, por via oral, a seis bovinos, em doses únicas e a 11 outros, em doses repetidas. Doses únicas de 10 e 20g/kg não provocaram sintomas. Doses únicas de 30 e 40g/kg provocaram quadros clínicos desde leves até graves, porém só morreu o animal que ingeriu 60g/kg. Os animais que ingeriram doses repetidas de 2,5g/kg por 30 dias adoeceram levemente, já os que receberam 5g/kg durante 13 e 14 dias mostraram sintomatologia moderada e grave, respectivamente. Um bovino que recebeu 10g/kg por 8 dias, outro que ingeriu 20g/kg por 3 dias e dois outros que receberam 30 e 40g/kg por 2 dias morreram da intoxicação. Os outros três bovinos que receberam doses repetidas (dois com doses de 10g/kg por 20 e 6 dias, outro com dose de 20 g/kg por 2 dias) adoeceram, mas se recuperaram. Os primeiros sintomas de intoxicação, em ambos os grupos, foram observados a partir do primeiro dia do experimento e a evolução variou de 3 a 63 dias. Os sintomas consistiram em anorexia, fezes levemente ressecadas a líquidas, distensão do abdômen, sem timpanismo, perda de fluido ruminal durante a ruminação, atonia e acidose ruminal, cólica, sialorréia, apatia, emagrecimento, fraqueza, erosões e úlceras na cavidade oral. Em alguns animais foram observadas congestão de mucosas visíveis (sem icterícia) e de partes despigmentadas da pele, do córion laminar e da região interdigital dos quatro membros, áreas de alopecia focal e/ou hipotricose nas regiões axilares, na face lateral das coxas e membros e perda dos pêlos da ponta da cauda, alterações estas que podem ser interpretadas como as de leve fotossensibilização. Em três bovinos se observaram relaxamento intermitente do prepúcio, micção freqüente e em gotejamento e, por vezes, gemidos ao eliminar a urina que, em geral, se apresentava turva, ácida, de cor âmbar-escura, com odor adocicado e com a densidade elevada; os níveis de bilirrubina na urina foram normais.
In order to contribute to the characterization of the clinical-pathological picture of poisoning by Stryphnodendron obovatum Benth. (Leg. Mimosoideae), the pods of the tree were given orally to 17 young bovines. Six animals received the pods only once: Those which received doses of 10 and 20 g/kg, did not show any symptoms of poisoning. Those which received 30, 40 and 40 g/kg of pods, showed respectively moderate, severe and slight symptoms of poisoning, but all recovered. The animal that was fed 60 g/kg, died. Eleven bovines received repeated doses of the pods: Two of them, which received 2,5 g/kg during 30 days, showed discrete to slight symptoms. Two animals received 5 g/kg during 13 and 14 days and showed moderate to severe poisoning. Three animals received 10 g/kg during 20, 8 and 6 days; the first of them showed slight symptoms, the second died and the third showed moderate to severe symptoms. Two animals received 20 g/kg during 2 and 3 days; the first showed slight symptoms, the second died. The two bovines which were fed 30 and 40 g/kg during 2 days, died. First symptoms of poisoning were observed from the first day of the experiments on, and the clinical course varied from 3 to 63 days. Digestive disorders predominated in the clinical-pathological picture. Symptoms were mainly loss of appetite up to anorexia, faeces slightly dry to liquid, distention of the abdomen without tympanism, loss of ruminal fluid during rumination, decrease in ruminal activity up to atonia, ruminal acidosis, gastro-intestinal colics, sialorrhoea, apathy, loss of weight, debility, erosions and ulcers of the oral mucosa. There was congestion of the visible mucous membranes (without icterus) and of the interdigital parts of the hoofs, areas of focal alopecia and/or hypotrichia in the axillary regions, the lateral parts of the tighs and members, loss of hair on the tip of the tail, alterations which can be interpreted as slight photosensitization. In two bovines aspiration pneumonia was verified. In three animals intermittent prolapse of the prepuce was seen, as well as polacuria; sometimes these animals sighed during urination. In all experimental animals the urine was generally turbid, acid, dark ambar, with a sweat smell and high density, and there was proteinuria; in a few animals glicosuria was diagnosed. Bilirubine values were normal. Thus, the severe photosensitization reported in the literature could not be reproduced. Loss of weight, slight photosensitization and absence of icterus, observed in our experiments, are in accordance with the symptoms reported by farmers of the Cerrado-regions (Savanna) where S. obovatum occurs.