Natural cururu toad (Rhinella sp.) poisoning in a free-ranging lesser grison (Galictis cuja): Outcomes in a new susceptible predator with a novel peptide description

Toxicon. 2022 Apr 30:210:44-48. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.02.015. Epub 2022 Feb 21.

Abstract

Cururu toad (Rhinella marina group) is widely distributed in Brazil. Lesser grison (Galitic cuja) is a South American mustelid. This is the first report of natural poisoning in a free-ranging lesser grison by Rhinella toad parotoid gland secretion (PGS). Five minutes after biting a toad, the lesser grison developed convulsion, dying within 1.5 h. Mass spectrometry analysis of a milky-whitish secretion found in the lesser grison oral cavity allowed identification of a bufotoxin and a new bufonid peptide.

Keywords: Bufotoxin; Fatal intoxication; Peptides; Seizure; Toxicology; Wildlife.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brazil
  • Bufo marinus
  • Peptides*

Substances

  • Peptides