SURTOS DE FOTOSSENSIBILIZAÇÃO PRIMÁRIA POR CONSUMO DE FROELICHIA HUBOLDTIATANA EM RUMINANTES E EQUIDEOS NO MUNICÍPIO DE ASSÚ RIO GRANDE DO NORTE

Abstract

Froelichia humboldtiana, commonly known as “Ervanço”, is a native plant of common occurrence in the semi-arid climate regions at the northeast of Brazil. Their presence is linked to primary photosensitivity outbreaks in cattle, goats, sheep and horses, causing an intense itchy photo dermatitis, which ceases after the interruption of consumption. This study aimed to report a primary photosensitization outbreak in the rural municipality of Assú, Rio Grande do Norte, during the rainy season in 2016, which there were two donkeys, two horses, thirty-four sheep, four goats and fifteen cattle diagnosed with photosensitivity injuries by consumption of F. humboldtiana. All animals had grazing history on F. humboldtiana areas for about a month after the beginning of the rainy season, with the development of photodermatitis lesions, especially in areas without hair and pigmentation. At the end of the rainy season, according to F. humboldtiana maturation, it was noticed a gradual improvement of the lesions. Peripheral blood was collected for analysis of serum activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and total, direct and indirect bilirubin. The results were within the reference values for each species, confirming the absence of liver injury and confirming primary photosensitivity disease. The diagnosis was determined from epidemiological data, clinical and laboratory tests. The photosensitivity by consumption of F. humboldtiana is an uneconomical impact factor of the regional livestock, causing weakness, weight loss, loss of milk production, depreciation of dispigmented animals, leather depreciation, and in some cases leads to death.