Liver biopsy in ragwort poisoning
Lombardo de Barros, C.S.; Castilhos, L.M.; Dos Santos, M.N.
Veterinary Record 121(16): 382
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 3424596 Document Number: 295301
The use of liver biopsy in cattle during a spontaneous outbreak of Senecio brasiliensis poisoning on a dairy farm is described; 6 of 136 calves, aged 4-5 months, that had been fed hay contaminated with S. brasiliensis were affected and died. Typical lesions of pyrrolizidine alkaloid poisoning were seen in the calves. The feeding of the contaminated hay was stopped and liver biopsies were performed using a Menghini type needle through a transthoracic access (11th right intercostal space) in the remaining 130 calves. Microscopic examination of hepatic samples revealed severe hepatic lesions in 8 calves and mild lesions in 7 calves. Lesions included fibrosis, ductal hyperplasia and megalocytosis. Within 4 months all 8 calves with severe lesions and 4 with mild lesions had developed clinical signs of pyrrolizidine alkaloid poisoning and died. All calves which had no hepatic lesions remained normal.