Case report
Dieffenbachia intoxication
Place:
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Date: 2019, July
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Data provided by:
History
A 12 years old Asian elephant in a zoo showed sudden symptoms: standing still with its mouth widely open, tongue pressed cranially, frequent urinating small amounts of urine. The other elephants at the zoo remained normal.
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Differential diagnose: tongue in contact with setae (hairs )of the caterpillar of the oak processionary (Thaumetopoea processionea); oak leaves had been fed during the preceeding week; insect sting in the oral cavity, eaten from an unknown irritating substance; urethra obstruction by urinary stones.
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Treatment
No treatment was given, as the cause of the intoxication was found soon: one of the ornamental plants outside the enclosure showed clear signs of having been chewed on: Dieffenbachia sp.
Treatment results
The symptoms disappeared within several hours after onset.
Dieffenbachia species