Comparison of the serum toxicokinetics of larkspur toxins in cattle, sheep and goats

• There is a difference in the toxicokinetic profile of methyllycaconitine (MLA) between cattle and sheep.
• There is no difference in the toxicokinetic profile of deltaline between cattle and sheep.
• Differences in toxicokinetics of MLA could partially explain species differences in susceptibility to larkspur toxicosis.

Larkspurs (Delphinium spp.) are a major cause of cattle losses in western North America, whereas sheep are thought to be resistant to larkspur toxicosis. Goats are often used as a small ruminant model to study poisonous plants. In this study, we compared the serum toxicokinetic profile of toxic larkspur alkaloids from Delphinium barbeyi in cattle, goats, and sheep. The results from this study indicate that kinetic differences could partially explain species differences in susceptibility to larkspur toxicosis.