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Sheep can be acutely poisoned by selenium (Se) accumulating forages which often contain selenate or Semethylselenocysteine as their predominant forms. Excess Se can be eliminated via respiration. Sheep were given a single oral dose of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 6 mg Se/kg BW as sodium selenate and Se-methylselenocysteine or 6 mg Se/kg BW as sodium selenite or selenomethionine. Expired air samples were collected and analyzed for Se. The Se concentration of the expired air reflected a dose-dependent increase at individual time points for both Se-methylselenocysteine and sodium selenate, however, Se content was greater and eliminated more rapidly from sheep receiving Se-methylselenocysteine. The mean Se concentration in respired air from sheep administered 6 mg Se/kg BW of different selenocompounds was greatest in sheep dosed Se-methylselenocysteine > selenomethionine > sodium selenate > sodium selenite. The Se concentration in respired air of acutely poisoned sheep is significantly different for different chemical forms of Se. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tremetone and possibly other benzofuran ketones are believed to be the toxic compounds in white snakeroot. However, disease has not been reproduced with purified toxins and the concentrations of the benzofuran ketones in white snakeroot populations that cause toxicosis have not been documented. The objectives of this study were to compare the toxicity of seven plant populations, better characterize the clinical and pathologic changes of poisoning, and correlate intoxication with benzofuran ketone content. Four of the seven white snakeroot collections were toxic at the dose and duration used in the study. Affected goats became exercise intolerant, had significant serum enzyme changes and histological lesions in the large appendicular muscles. The incidence and severity of poisoning was not correlated with total doses of tremetone or total benzofuran ketone concentrations suggesting they may not be closely involved in producing toxicity and the possible involvement of an unidentified toxin. The results also demonstrate that white snakeroot populations vary chemically and toxicologically., (Published by Elsevier Ltd.)