An escaped weed in many areas, growing in disturbed soils, roadsides, but rarely persisting. It is also grown as a cover crop, and as a source of buckwheat flour.
Distribution
Througout North America.
Animals Affected
Cattle, horses, sheep, goats
Buckwheat
Toxic Principle
Fagopyrin, a dianthroquinone is present in both the green and dried plant; but not the ripe seeds. Once absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, the fagopyrin in the blood vessels of the non pigmented skin, reacts with ultra violet waves from sunlight. Radiant energy in the form of fluorescence produced by the fagopyrin when exposed to sunlight causes damage to the blood vessels in non pigmented skin. This primary photosensitization can be severe to the point of causing cell death and sloughing of the skin.
Description
Fast growing annual herb with erect stem and a tap root. Stems are hairless accept at the nodes. Leaves have long petioles, the leaf shape varying from arrow to heart-shaped. Small white flowers are produced in the leaf axils. Seeds are angular, 3-sided and turn brown when ripe.
Treatment
Affected animals should be immediately moved out of the sun and preferably kept in a dark stall or barn. Buck wheat should be removed entirely from the diet of the animal. Antihistamines and anti-inflammatory drugs may help in the acute cases. It may take up to 2 -3 months for the skin to heal and the hair regrow.
Integumentary System
Animals with white skin are most severely affected. Black skinned animals are not affected except for showing photophobia if the eyes are not pigmented. Initially the non-pigmented skin becomes reddened, severely pruritic, swollen and painful. Severe photosensitization results in serum exudation and necrosis of the skin, causing the skin to become dry, parchment-like and eventually sloughing. Affected animals become very agitated when exposed to sunlight, often desperately seeking shade under vehicles, buildings, trees etc. to avoid exposure.
Ocular System
Photophobia and tearing may be evident
Diagnosis
Photosensitization. Serum liver enzymes are usually normal, helping to differentiate primary photosensitization from secondary photosensitization resulting from severe liver failure.
Special Notes
Buck wheat is often grown as a cover crop for soil improvement, and as such poses a risk to animals that gain access to the field.
It is important for a veterinarian to differentiate between primary and secondary (liver induced) photosensitization as the prognosis for primary photosensitization is much better. The main plant primary photosensitizers are Buckwheat, St. John's wort, bishops weed (Ammi majus), and spring parsley (Cymopterus species)
Buckwheat plant
Buckwheat leaves and flowers
Buckwheat flowers
Horse with photosenstization
Buckwheat
