Suspected avocado (Persea americana) poisoning in goats.

A herd of 15 Cameroon goats was suspected of having been poisoned by eating leaves of the Fuerte variety of avocado pear (Persea americana). Two of the affected goats were examined clinically, while necropsies were carried out on 3 of the 4 that had died. The most significant clinical findings were tachycardia, hyperpnoea and evidence of lung oedema. At necropsy severe lung oedema, hydrothorax and hydropericardium were present. Severe myocardial degeneration, necrosis and fibrosis were the major histopathological findings.