TOXICITY OF PIPER-ABYSSINICA SEEDS TO NUBIAN GOATS

An investigation is described in which Nubian goats were given daily o ral doses of Piper abyssinica seeds at 0.25; 1 and 5 g/kg body weight. The results of liver and kidney function tests were correlated with t he clinical and pathological changes. In goats receiving the plant see d at 5 g/kg body weight/day, death occurred within 5-14 days and the m ain signs were bloated rumen, diarrhoea, dyspnoea and ataxia. Enterohe patonephropathy was accompanied by increases in the activity of serum ALP and GGT, in the concentration of cholesterol, globulin, total lipi ds and urea and decreases in the level of albumin. Piper seed was toxi c but not lethal to goats at doses of 0.25 and 1 g/kg body weight.