Lantana camara poisoning in cattle that took refuge during a storm in a forest invaded by this plant

An outbreak of poisoning by Lantana camara occurred in cattle when a herd sought refuge in a Eucalyptus forest heavily infested by this plant. The animals showed apathy, elevated serum activities of hepatic enzymes, severe photosensitivity, jaundice, hepatomegaly and nephrosis. After a clinical manifestation period of 2–15 days, 74 out of 170 heifers died. The main histological changes were random hepatocellular necrosis, cholestasis, biliary proliferation and, in one animal, centrilobular necrosis. Immunostaining for Caspase 3 detected scattered apoptotic hepatocytes. [Display omitted] •Lantana spp. poisoning occurs sporadically in cattle and other species.•Cattle can suffer Lantana spp. poisoning when taking refuge, due to storms, in forests invaded by this plant.•Severe jaundice and photosensitization are hallmarks of the poisoning, but hepatic lesions are variable.•Hepatocyte immunostaining by Caspase 3 suggests that Lantana spp. causes apoptosis in these cells.