Lantana camara POISONING IN MEHSANA BUFFALOES: A PROFILE OF PHOTOSENSITIZATION

Lantana Camara is poisonous weed.Recently three clinical cases ofphotosensitization in milking Mehsana buffaloes were presented for treatment at Hathwara villege in Sabarkantha district of Gujarat state. History of case clearly indicated the possibility of Lantana Camara poisoning. Information given by the animal owners revealed that the Lantana Camara plants are present in surrounding of pasture,where animals were allowed to graze, which might have been consumed by animals during grazing. Clinical cases were characterized by anorexia, diarrhea, icterus,edema of the affected parts, serous fluidoozing out from affected skin lesions,sloughing off the superficial layer of skin.Animal showed tendency of itching. All the animals suffering from photosensitization were treated with antihistaminic (Injection Anhistamine 50 mg, IM) and antibiotic(gentamicin 5 mg/ kg IM) administrations.All the three animals recovered to normalhealthy status within five days.