Editing Avocado (section)

==Toxicity==
===Allergies===
Some people have [[allergic]] reactions to avocado. There are two main forms of allergy: those with a tree-pollen allergy develop local symptoms in the mouth and throat shortly after eating avocado; the second, known as latex-fruit syndrome,<ref name="pmid9188921">{{cite journal |vauthors=Brehler R, Theissen U, Mohr C, Luger T |date=April 1997 |title="Latex-fruit syndrome": frequency of cross-reacting IgE antibodies |journal=Allergy |volume=52 |issue=4 |pages=404–410 |doi=10.1111/j.1398-9995.1997.tb01019.x |pmid=9188921 |s2cid=27995880}}</ref> is related to [[latex allergy]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Latex allergy |url=http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Latex_allergy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111227025420/http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Latex_allergy |archive-date=27 December 2011 |access-date=26 December 2011 |work=Better Health Channel}}</ref> and symptoms include generalised [[urticaria]], abdominal pain, and vomiting and can sometimes be life-threatening.<ref>{{cite web |date=18 October 2006 |title=Avocado – allergy information (InformAll: Communicating about Food Allergies – University of Manchester) |url=http://research.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/informall/allergenic-food/?FoodId=4 |access-date=14 February 2017 |publisher=Inflammation-repair.manchester.ac.uk}}</ref>

===Toxicity to animals===
Avocado leaves, [[Bark (botany)|bark]], skin, or [[Endocarp|pit]] are documented to be harmful to animals; cats, dogs, cattle, goats, rabbits,<ref>{{cite web |author=Appleman, D. |year=1944 |title=Preliminary Report on Toxicity of Avocado Leaves |url=http://www.avocadosource.com/CAS_Yearbooks/CAS_29_1944/CAS_1944_PG_037.pdf |access-date=9 October 2012}}</ref> rats, guinea pigs, birds, fish, and horses<ref>{{cite web |date=30 June 2006 |title=Notes on poisoning: avocado |url=http://www.cbif.gc.ca/pls/pp/ppack.info?p_psn=238&p_type=all&p_sci=comm&p_x=px |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080114023756/http://www.cbif.gc.ca/pls/pp/ppack.info?p_psn=238&p_type=all&p_sci=comm&p_x=px |archive-date=14 January 2008 |access-date=29 December 2007 |publisher=Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility}}</ref> can be severely harmed or even killed when they consume them. The avocado fruit is poisonous to some birds, and the [[American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals]] (ASPCA) lists it as toxic to horses.<ref>{{cite web |title=Avocado |url=http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/avocado.html |work=ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center}}</ref>

Avocado leaves contain a toxic fatty acid derivative, [[persin]], which in sufficient quantity can cause [[colic in horses]] and without veterinary treatment, death.<ref name="pmid8581318">{{cite journal |last1=Oelrichs |first1=Peter B |last2=Ng |first2=Jack C |last3=Seawright |first3=Alan A |last4=Ward |first4=Annemarie |last5=Schäffeler |first5=Lothar |last6=MacLeod |first6=John K |year=1995 |title=Isolation and identification of a compound from avocado (Persea americana) leaves which causes necrosis of the acinar epithelium of the lactating mammary gland and the myocardium |journal=Natural Toxins |volume=3 |issue=5 |pages=344–349 |doi=10.1002/nt.2620030504 |pmid=8581318}}</ref> The symptoms include gastrointestinal irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory distress, congestion, fluid accumulation around the tissues of the heart, and even death. Birds also seem to be particularly sensitive to this toxic compound.

The leaves of the Guatemalan variety of ''P. americana'' are toxic to goats, sheep, and horses.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 2010 |title=Livestock – Poisoning Plants of California, Publication 8398 |url=http://alfalfa.ucdavis.edu/-files/pdf/LivestockPoisoningPlantsNov2010.pdf |access-date=26 February 2018 |publisher=Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California}}</ref>