Accidental Oleandrum (Nerium Oleander L.) Ingestion: Anatomo-Pathological consequences in livestock species

The oleander (Nerium oleander L.)isa flowering and evergreen shrub or small tree, belonging to the Dogbane family, cultivated as ornamental plants in gardens and public city areas. These plants, distributed originally in Asia and the Mediterranean area, grow in many parts of the world, particularly in warm temperate and subtropical regions. Oleander is considered a noxious weed and its toxicity has been known since ancient times.All parts of plants, including stems, leaves, young shoots, flowers, nectar, sap and products induced by combustion are toxic.The poison-ing effects of plants induce severe negative changes especially in the heart, also in the lung, liver and kidney. Acciden-tal and experimental cases of oleander poisonings have been described in many species. Several cases of accidental ingestion in human and animals have been reported from across the world. Therefore, this review summarizes the main anatomo-pathological effects found in livestock species after accidental oleandrum poisoning.