Incubation of European yew (Taxus baccata) with white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) rumen fluid reduces taxine A concentrations.

Abstract

Yew ( Taxus baccata) foliage was co-incubated with rumen fluid (RF) taken from fistulated cattle (Bos taurus), anesthetized white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and O. virginianus killed by bow hunters. The first trial with live deer resulted in statistically significant 59% reduction of taxine A by deer RF and no reduction by cattle RF. The second intubation trial, in which half the samples were stopped after 12 h, resulted in slightly less taxine A reduction by deer (46%) and 12% reduction by cattle RF. RF obtained by hunters eQuipped with thermos bottles and trained to collect RF immediatey upon field dressing their deer caused the most (88-96%) taxine A destruction: cattle RF reduced 68-88% the toxin. Obtaining RF from freshly killed deer was less expensive and more consistently successful than taking RF by intubation of anesthetized deer. The greater ability of white-tailed deer RF to detoxify yew taxines may not entirely explain the advantage white-tailed deer have over cattle to surviveyew ingestions without toxic effects.