ASSESSMENT OF THE PRESENCE, SEASONAL DYNAMICITY AND EFFECT OF TOXIC PLANTS OF VETERINARY IMPORTANCE ON DOMESTIC RUMINANTS IN SELECTED DISTRICTS OF NORTH WOLLO, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Plants comprise a large variety of poisons that animals majorly feed on, and the known poisoning in consuming these plants is separable. The study assessed the presence, seasonal dynamicity, and effect of toxic plants on domestic ruminants. This study was conducted in three districts of Amhara regional state, North Wollo, Ethiopia, known as Habru, Kobo, and Gubalafto, using a mixed type of research, including a questionnaire survey, focal group discussion, clinical case recording, field pant sample collection, and botanical classification, from September 2022 to August 2023. A total of 224 individuals were interviewed (37) for each district, of which 85.7 % were males. All infectious and non-infectious types of diseases challenge the livestock production system (64.3 %). 64.3% of the participants indicated disease, water, and animal feed were the primary challenges. About 80.4 % of cases of toxic plants mostly occur two times per year. Both grass and weeds were the main sources of plant toxicosis (66.1%). Of the total (224), about 54.5 % of them attempt to treate animals by both traditional and veterinary clinics, while only 8.0 % visit traditional medicines. The top predisposing factors that expose animals to plant toxicoses were accidental ingestion with feed (31.3%) and both feed shortage with accidental ingestion with feed (23.2%). Cattle, sheep, and goats (64.3%) were among the susceptible domestic ruminants affected by toxic plants. A pair-wise ranking score identifies fourteen (14) toxic plants, which include: signalgrass (Bracheriadecumbens), Tribulus terreistri, Amaranthus retroflexus, Acacia nilotica (L) Ficusspp, Physalis angulate, Agavesisalana perrire, Datura Stramonium, Insolanum incanum, and Anagallis arvensis. More of the toxic plants were located on low land (57.1%), and most of the animal toxicosis was caused by Amaranthus retroflexus (83.3%). Based on seasonal calender, most diseases occurred from winter to autumn (64.3%), while summer to spring (14.3%). The total estimation of toxic plants among the non-infectious cases is 0.012. The proportion of toxic plant cases in highland and lowland had a difference of 0.001 and 0.002 respectively, associated with some causal factor statistically tested by an odd ratio that had a significant value of 1. 9 and 2.15 for location and seasone respedtively which is ˃1. Botanical classification of the collected plant and chemical profile A proper epidemiological assessment of toxic plants has the most valuable solution.