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A fatal case of autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale) poisoning in a heifer: confirmation by mass-spectrometric colchicine detection

Correspondence: ¹Corresponding Author: Hanspeter Naegeli, University of Zürich, Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Winterthurerstrasse 260, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland, e-mail: naegelih{at}vetpharm.uzh.ch

A heifer developed severe signs of acute gastrointestinal irritation 48 hr after ingesting fresh leaves of Colchicum autumnale growing on a damp meadow. Confirmation of the suspected toxicosis was obtained by detecting colchicine in serum and urine using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization. Although the serum colchicine concentration had declined to an apparently nontoxic level of 2.4 ng/ml, a more prominent concentration (640 ng/ml) indicative of colchicine poisoning was detected in the urine. This finding is consistent with the known toxicokinetic properties of colchicine, whereby a large volume of distribution results in low circulating blood concentrations and prolonged urinary excretion.

Key Words: Autumn crocus • cattle • colchicine • Colchicum autumnale • poisoning