Abstract
The asebi (Pieris japonica) include several glucosides such as Pieristoxin, Grayanotoxin, Asebotoxin or Andoromedotoxin. There are reports Pieris poisoning in goats, sheep and cattle. We experienced sheep and goats with severe respiratory distress and sudden death at a farm in Fukushima prefecture. We diagnosed Pieris poisoning because of the leaves recovered from the rumen of the dead sheep. In particular, there was severe pulmonary edema. The asebi tree had been planted as an ornamental and its harvested leaves were mistakenly fed to the animals.
