Mortality is prevented by immediate fluid and electrolyte replacement ( Levin et al., 2000; this website Menezes et al., 2006). The toxic effects of Jatropha species have also been reported

in domestic animals. J. curcas seeds are toxic when given experimentally to calves ( Ahmed and Adam, 1979a), goats ( Adam and Magzoub, 1975) and sheep ( Ferreira et al., 2011). The leaves of J. gossypiifolia are also toxic when given experimentally to sheep ( Oliveira et al., 2008). Poisoning has been reported in cattle and in sheep that have ingested oil extraction residues from J. curcas seeds ( Völker, 1950). Clinically, poisoning by Jatropha spp. is characterized by digestive, cardiac, and pulmonary disorders ( Ferreira et al., 2011). The ethanol extract from J. gossypiifolia causes digestive disorders, incoordination, paralysis and depression in rats ( Mariz et al., 2011). Jatropha spp. contains different active components including saponins, tannins, lectins, phytate, RG7204 in vivo forbol esters, alkaloids, and proteases with antinutritional effects that may have medicinal activity and probably under certain conditions might also be toxic ( Makkar et al.,

1997; Barahona et al., 2010; Ferreira et al., 2011). The two main toxic components of J. curcas are curcin, a lectin that interferes with protein synthesis and that causes gastroenteritis, and phorbol esters, which are activators of mutagenesis, cell growth and inflammation ( Makkar et al., 1997;

Barahona et al., 2010). J. mutabilis, J. ribifolia, and J. mollissima are endemic in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil ( Oliveira, 2011), but the toxicity of these species has not been reported. In addition, poisonings by Jatropha spp. have not been reported in grazing animals. The objectives of this study were: 1) to report the poisoning of goats by J. ribifolia in pastures invaded by the plant; 2) to reproduce experimentally J. ribifolia poisoning in goats. Epidemiological data and the history of the outbreak were collected on visits to the affected farms in the municipality of Juazeiro, State of Bahia, Northeastern Brazil. During the visits, performed during the dry seasons of 2009 and 2010, the pastures were inspected, affected animals were examined clinically, Acyl CoA dehydrogenase and one affected goat was euthanized and necropsied. The poisoning occurred in a 2600-ha area that was inhabited by 1500 goats from 5 flocks belonging to different owners. According to one of the farmers, poisoning by J. ribifolia had occurred since the dry season of 2007. This farmer stated that in 2008, 240 of the flock of 500 goats were affected by the poisoning, and 200 died. During the 2010 dry season, 80 out of 400 goats died after exhibiting clinical signs of the intoxication. In the same year, in another flock from the same area, 40 out of approximately 400 goats were affected, 25 died and 15 recovered after their removal from the area.