Toxicity of Jatropha cucurcas for goats.

Eleven Nubian goats were fed with Jatropha curcas seeds at doses ranging from 0.25 g to 10g/kg/day. All dose levels were found to be toxic with fatal conswquences within 2 to 21 days. Liver biopsy samples taken 2 days after the start of feeding and subsequent biopsies showed congestion, varying degrees of fatty change, considerable reduction in glycogen content and necrosis of the hepatocytes. Lack of appetite, reduced water consumption, diarrhoea, dehydration, sunken eyes and a steadily deteriorating condition were important clinical signs of Jatropha intoxication goats. In all animals there was a decrease in the level of glucose and a marked rise in the concentration of arginase and glutamate oxaloacetate transminase (GOT) in the serum. Post-mortem examination revealed haemorrhage in the rumen, reticulum, kidney, spleen and heart, catarrhal or haemorrhagic abomasitis and enteritis, congestion and oedema of the lung and excessive fluid in serous cavities.