Experimental oral administration of pollen beetle (Astylus atromaculatus) to cattle results in an acute lethal gastrointestinal disease

In the summer of 2023, ingestion of Astylus atromaculatus (pollen beetle) was linked to spontaneous fatal disease in grazing cattle and sheep in Argentina and Uruguay. While the disease was experimentally reproduced in sheep and guinea pigs in the 1970’s, no experimental reproductions have been atte...

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Published in:Veterinary pathology 2024-07, Vol.61 (4), p.590-603
Main Authors: Giannitti, Federico, Machado, Mizael, Silva Silveira, Caroline da, Cibils-Stewart, Ximena, Baráibar, Nicolás, Queiroz-Machado, Cintia R. R., Poppenga, Robert H., Menchaca, Alejo, Uzal, Francisco A., García, Juan A., Matto, Carolina, Dutra, Fernando, Ruprechter, Gretel, Caffarena, Darío, Saravia, Anderson
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:In the summer of 2023, ingestion of Astylus atromaculatus (pollen beetle) was linked to spontaneous fatal disease in grazing cattle and sheep in Argentina and Uruguay. While the disease was experimentally reproduced in sheep and guinea pigs in the 1970’s, no experimental reproductions have been attempted in cattle, and controversy exists as to whether this insect is indeed noxious to cattle and at which dose. Here, we demonstrate that A. atromaculatus causes acute fatal disease in Hereford calves at single oral dosages of 2.5, 4.5, 10.0, and 15.0 g of insect/kg body weight. Death or severe disease necessitating euthanasia occurred at 38 to 48 hours postinoculation regardless of the dose, suggesting that the single fatal dosage is likely
ISSN:0300-9858
1544-2217
1544-2217
DOI:10.1177/03009858241231557