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PubMed2005

New transtracheal bronchoalveolar lavage technique for the diagnosis of respiratory disease in sheep.

A new transtracheal bronchoalveolar lavage technique for the diagnosis of respiratory disease in sheep under field conditions was tested in 76 sheep. The sheep were divided into three groups, normal sheep, sheep with clinical signs of respiratory disease and housed sheep, on the basis of their respiratory disease history and husbandry conditions. The detection of Mannheimia haemolytica and Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae or parainfluenza virus type 3 and bovine respiratory syncytial virus antigen in the lavage samples was closely correlated with clinical disease. The sheep with clinical respiratory disease had a higher mean percentage of neutrophils in the lavage fluid than the sheep in the other two groups.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed1988

Effect of catalase on endotoxin-induced acute lung injury in unanesthetized sheep.

Administration of endotoxin intravenously to unanesthetized sheep causes an acute lung injury characterized by increased microvascular barrier permeability and subsequent pulmonary edema. Endotoxin-induced sheep lung injury can be attenuated by leukocyte depletion, and may be mediated by toxic metabolites of oxygen. We studied effects of administering catalase, which catalyzes conversion of hydrogen peroxide to oxygen and water, to sheep subsequently infused with endotoxin to test the hypothesis that hydrogen peroxide plays a role in the pathogenesis of lung injury. We found that infusions of endotoxin (1 microgram/kg) into untreated sheep caused the expected biphasic response, a transient, early, marked pulmonary arterial hypertension followed by a prolonged increase in protein-rich lung lymph flow characteristic of increased microvascular permeability filtration in the lungs. Intraperitoneal injections of catalase (50 mg/kg) prior to infusing endotoxin in these same sheep resulted in substantial catalase activity in plasma and in lung lymph, and attenuated the expected changes in pulmonary arterial pressure, lung lymph flow, and arterial leukocyte counts and oxygen tension after endotoxin infusions. Furthermore, mechanical elevation of hydrostatic pressure in the lungs of a catalase-treated sheep infused with endotoxin resulted in increased lung lymph flow with a decreased protein concentration, indicating that the microvascular barrier to fluid and protein was functionally intact. Administration of catalase that was inactivated by reaction with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of aminotriazole or administration of the catalase vehicle, thymol, had no effects on the sheep responses to endotoxin. We conclude that hydrogen peroxide plays a role in the pathogenesis of endotoxin-induced acute lung injury in sheep.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2005

Malignant catarrhal fever-like disease in sheep after intranasal inoculation with ovine herpesvirus-2.

A malignant catarrhal fever (MCF)-like disease was induced experimentally in 3 sheep after aerosol inoculation with ovine herpesvirus-2 (OvHV-2). Each of 3 OvHV-2-negative sheep was nebulized with 2 ml of nasal secretions containing approximately 3.07 X 10(9) OvHV-2 DNA copies from a sheep experiencing an intensive viral-shedding episode. Ovine herpesvirus-2 DNA became detectable by polymerase chain reaction in the peripheral blood leukocytes of all 3 sheep within 3 days, and all 3 seroconverted between 6 and 8 days postinfection (PI). The sheep developed clinical signs, with copious mucopurulent nasal discharge and fever around 14 days PI. One of the 3 clinically affected sheep was euthanized at 18 days PI. Major lesions at necropsy were multifocal linear erosions and ulcers in mucosa of the cheeks, tongue, pharynx, and proximal esophagus and mild disseminated pneumonia. Microscopically, there was extensive moderate superficial histiocytic-lymphocytic rhinitis with epithelial dissociation and degeneration. Moderate multifocal histiocytic bronchointerstitial pneumonia was associated with loss of terminal bronchiolar epithelium. Lymphocytic vasculitis was present only in the lung. The remaining 2 sheep recovered clinically, approximately 25 days PI. The study revealed that clinical signs and lesions resembling MCF can develop when uninfected sheep are exposed to a high dose of aerosolized OvHV-2.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

An ultrasensitive capture ELISA for detection of Fasciola hepatica coproantigens in sheep and cattle using a new monoclonal antibody (MM3).

A capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a new monoclonal antibody (mAb MM3) is reported for the detection of Fasciola hepatica excretory-secretory antigens (ESAs) in feces of infected hosts. The mAb MM3 was produced by immunization of mice with a 7- to 40-kDa purified and O-deglycosylated fraction of F. hepatica ESAs, which has previously been shown to be specific for the parasite. The specificity and sensitivity of the MM3 capture ELISA were assessed using feces from sheep and cattle. Sheep feces were obtained from a fluke-free herd (with most animals harboring other nematodes and cestodes), from lambs experimentally infected with 5-40 F. hepatica metacercariae and in some cases treated with triclabendazole at 14 wk postinfection (PI), and from uninfected control lambs. Cattle feces were collected at the slaughterhouse from adult cows naturally infected with known numbers of flukes (from 1 to 154) or free of F. hepatica infection (though in most cases harboring other helminths). The MM3 capture ELISA assay had detection limits of 0.3 (sheep) and 0.6 (cattle) ng of F. hepatica ESA per milliliter of fecal supernatant. The assay detected 100% of sheep with 1 fluke, 100% of cattle with 2 flukes, and 2 of 7 cattle with 1 fluke. The false-negative animals (5/7) were probably not detected because the F. hepatica individuals in these animals were immature (5-11 mm in length). As expected, coproantigen concentration correlated positively (r = 0.889; P < 0.001) with parasite burden and negatively (r = 0.712; P < 0.01) with the time after infection at which coproantigen was first detected. Nevertheless, even in animals with low fluke burdens (1-36 parasites), the first detection of F. hepatica-specific coproantigens by the MM3 capture ELISA preceded the first detection in egg count by 1-5 wk. In all sheep that were experimentally infected and then untreated, coproantigen remained detectable until at least 18 wk PI, whereas in sheep that were experimentally infected and then flukicide treated, coproantigen became undetectable from 1 to 3 wk after treatment. None of the fecal samples from sheep or cattle negative for fascioliasis but naturally infected with other parasites including Dicroelium dendriticum showed reactivity in the MM3 capture ELISA. These results indicate that this assay is a reliable and ultrasensitive method for detecting subnanogram amounts of F. hepatica antigens in feces from sheep and cattle, facilitating early diagnosis.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Evaluation of the bioequivalence of two formulations of deltamethrin for treatment of sheep with psoroptic mange.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate efficacy of 2 deltamethrin emulsifiable concentrates that differed on the basis of vehicle (methyl glycol acetate [AMG] or 2-propylene glycol 1-methyl ether acetate [AMP]) for the treatment of sheep with mange. ANIMALS: 30 ewes between 11 months and 7 years old that weighed 16 to 71 kg and were naturally infested with Psoroptes ovis. PROCEDURE: Sheep were randomly allocated into 3 groups (13 sheep in group AMP, 13 sheep in group AMG, and 4 negative-control sheep). Each sheep was dipped twice (10-day interval between dippings) in the assigned formulation. Assessment of efficacy was performed on days 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, and 63 after the first dipping. Efficacy was assessed by determining the number of eggs or live mites on those days, as well as regrowth of wool at the end of the study. RESULTS: Psoroptic mange infestation was maintained in the 4 control sheep throughout the study. We did not detect live Psoroptes mites in scrapings after day 7 (AMP group) or after day 14 (AMG group). No parasites were seen after day 14 in either treatment group. Therefore, efficacy was 100% for both treatment groups from days 14 to 63. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The 2 formulations of deltamethrin were equally able to eradicate Psoroptes infestation of sheep after 2 dippings performed in accordance with the label recommendations.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Histopathologic alterations induced in the lungs of sheep by use of alpha2-adrenergic receptor agonists.

OBJECTIVE: To study effects of central- and peripheral-acting alpha2-adrenergic receptor agonists on lung parenchyma, platelets, and pulmonary intravascular macrophages (PIM) of sheep. ANIMALS: 12 healthy mature female sheep. PROCEDURE: Group-1 (control, n = 2) sheep received 5 ml of physiologic saline solution IV and were euthanatized 3 minutes later. Sheep of group 2 (n = 8) received xylazine (150 microg/kg of body weight, IV), then 2 sheep each were euthanatized 3, 10, or 60 minutes, or 12 hours later. Sheep (n = 2) of group 3 were given ST-91 (30 microg/kg, IV), then were euthanatized 3 minutes later. Immediately after euthanasia, the lungs were fixed intratracheally and tissue was obtained for light and electron microscopy after 1 hour. RESULTS: Pulmonary parenchymal damage or morphologic alterations in PIM and platelets were not evident in control sheep. Three minutes after xylazine administration, morphologic changes in PIM were appreciable. After 10 minutes, extensive damage to the capillary endothelium and alveolar type-I cells, intra-alveolar hemorrhage, and interstitial and alveolar edema were evident. Most PIM had complete internalization of the surface coat. Similar changes were seen 60 minutes after xylazine administration; however, by 12 hours, morphologic features of PIM and lung parenchyma were almost completely restored. Evidence of PIM activation, obvious damage to capillary endothelium, and extensive pulmonary edema also were evident 3 minutes after ST-91 administration. CONCLUSIONS: XYLAZINE induces severe pulmonary parenchymal damage when administered at clinical sedative doses in sheep; morphologic changes in PIM within 3 minutes after administration of these drugs are substantial; and platelet aggregation is not apparent.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗
PubMed1989

The use of a microagglutination assay for the detection of antibodies to Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis in naturally infected sheep and goat flocks.

Two goat flocks comprising 326 animals and four sheep flocks comprising 343 animals, all with a previously recognized problem of abscesses due to Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, were examined for the presence of abscesses and antibody titers to C. pseudotuberculosis as detected by direct microagglutination assay. In sheep there was a strong positive relationship between age and titer (p less than 0.0001). However, the relationship in goats between age and titer could not be determined due to a strong interaction between flock and age. When the relationship between abscesses and titer was examined, it was found that goats with abscesses had higher titers than those that did not (p less than 0.05), whereas there was no difference in titer between sheep with abscesses and those without (p = 0.5753). The sensitivity of the microagglutination test was poor to good for both species (52.3% for goats and 89.7% for sheep). The specificity of the test was fair to poor (64.9% for goats and 21.7% for sheep). Given a disease prevalence of 13.5% for goats and 8.5% for sheep the predictive value of the positive test was very poor (18.9% for goats and 9.6% for sheep) but the predictive value of the negative test was good to excellent (89.7% for goats and 95.8% for sheep). The poor specificity of the test and therefore the positive predictive value may be due in part to the criterion of classification of presence of disease, i.e. presence of an abscess at the time of sampling.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1988

Beta-galactosidase activity in fibroblasts and tissues from sheep with a lysosomal storage disease.

Tissues and fibroblasts of sheep affected with an inherited, neuronal lysosomal storage disease expressed a deficiency of beta-galactosidase activity. Cerebrum, kidney, lung, spinal cord, and spleen from affected sheep had less than 8% of the beta-galactosidase activity present in the respective tissues of normal sheep. No evidence for the presence of an endogenous inhibitor in affected sheep was detected by mixing studies. Liver of affected sheep expressed a deficiency of beta-galactosidase activity only in the presence of the beta-D-glycosidase inhibitors, glucono-delta-lactone and 2,5-dihydroxymethyl-3,4-dihydroxypyrrolidine. In these studies, we demonstrated the existence of tissue-specific beta-galactosidases in sheep and showed that the affected sheep have a deficiency of the lysosomal beta-galactosidase. Our results suggest that the high residual beta-galactosidase activity in liver of affected sheep can be attributed to a nonlysosomal beta-galactosidase that has a neutral pH optimum and may be under temporal regulation.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Propionate loading test for liver function during experimental liver necrosis in sheep.

The first objective of this work was to study the conversion of propionate to glucose by liver of the sheep during experimentally induced liver necrosis. An additional objective was to determine the most appropriate sampling time after a propionate load has been given to use glucose concentration as an aid in the diagnosis of disturbed liver function. Sodium propionate (3 mmol/kg) was injected IV into 6 healthy sheep before and after they were given carbon tetrachloride (20% CCl4 in mineral oil; 0.25 ml of CCl4/kg, orally). To differentiate the effects of liver necrosis from the effects of decrease in food intake after CCl4 administration, 5 sheep which were fasted for 2 days, but not given CCl4, were studied. Microscopically, liver necrosis was observed, as well as an increase of fatty infiltration in nonnecrotic liver tissue. After sheep were given CCl4, the plasma liver-specific enzyme activities (namely, those of iditol dehydrogenase and gamma-glutamyl-transferase) were elevated. Microscopic and enzymatic changes were not observed in fasted animals. Serum sulfobromophthalein (BSP) half-life (t1/2) was markedly increased in the sheep given CCl4 treatment (t1/2 = 22.8 +/- 11 minutes) when compared with the t1/2 before treatment (t1/2 = 2.5 +/- 0.2 minutes). The BSP t1/2 did not differ between fed and fasted sheep. The t1/2 of the IV propionate load increased significantly, from 6.9 +/- 0.4 minutes in the control sheep to 12.8 +/- 2 minutes in the CCl4-treated sheep, whereas an insignificant increase was seen after fasting (6.8 +/- 1 minutes to 8.3 +/- 1 minutes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1985

A field trial to assess the therapeutic and prophylactic effect of a foot rot vaccine in sheep.

An 18-week field trial was conducted on a sheep ranch to evaluate the therapeutic and prophylactic effect of a commercial foot rot vaccine. Two hundred sheep were included in the study, 100 with detectable foot rot lesions and 100 without. Approximately 50 sheep from each group were selected randomly and vaccinated twice against foot rot at a 6-week interval in the late spring 1984; the remaining sheep acted as nonvaccinated controls. Therapeutic effect of the vaccine was demonstrated by a cure rate of 53% in vaccinated, foot rot-affected sheep vs a cure rate of 19% in nonvaccinated, foot rot-affected sheep. Prophylactic effect of the vaccine was demonstrated by a foot rot prevalence at the end of the 18-week period of 9% for vaccinated sheep vs 53% for nonvaccinated sheep. Associations of foot rot lesions and vaccination with body condition were found to be significant, as was the association between foot rot lesions and mortality.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

An immunohematological study of chronic copper toxicity in sheep.

Direct and indirect Coombs tests were performed on six experimentally chronic copper poisoned sheep and on two control sheep. Initially, all sheep were direct Coombs test negative and five of six experimental and one of two control sheep were indirect Coombs test positive. During intoxication, five of six experimental sheep became direct Coombs test positive while controls remained negative. Eluates, prepared from the red cells of three experimental sheep, sensitized normal sheep red cells, as measured by the indirect Coombs test. Similarly prepared eluates from control sheep were negative.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

The effect of route of infection on acquired resistance to Fasciola hepatica in the rat and sheep.

Rats and sheep were infected with Fasciola hepatica by subcutaneous, intramuscular or oral (intraruminal--sheep) inoculation with encysted metacercariae and the development of flukes from these primary infections assessed. Additional rats and sheep similarly infected were challenged with encysted metacercariae orally (rats), or intraruminally (sheep) to assess the level of acquired resistance generated by previous infection by each of the three routes of administration. In both rats and sheep 0--5 per cent, 0--5 per cent and 20--25 per cent of metacercariae given by the subcutaneous, intramuscular or oral (intraruminal--sheep) routes were recovered as flukes in the liver four and 12 weeks after infection of rats, or 17 weeks after infection of sheep. Primary infection of rats with F hepatica by each of the three routes generated strong protection against oral challenge whereas no protection was generated in sheep, irrespective of route of infection.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1977

[Occurrence of nematodiasis among sheep and goats].

The spread was studied of sheep and goat nematodirosis in the conditions prevailing in the district of Varna for the 1973-1975 period. Füleborn's method was employed with a total of 24,909 coprosamples taken from the animals as follows: sheep--12,690, weaned lambs--7370, lambs--3355, kids--782, and goats--712. Partial helminthologic postmortem examinations were carried out by the digestive method of 104 sheep, 33 goats, 142 weaned lambs, 96 lambs, and 35 kids. The percent of infected animals was determined on the basis of the coprostudies as follows; lambs--20.9 (per cent), kids--26.6, weaned lambs--54.9, sheep--22.6, goats--24.8. The necroscopic investigations revealed 32.3, 40, 64.8, 32.5, 39.4 per cent, respectively. The average parasite burden in number of helminths was 313 (lambs), 85 (kids), 1517 (weaned lambs), 586 (sheep), and goats--290. Greatest number of Nematodirus parasites was found in weaned lambs--16,000, followed by sheep--2260, lambs--1840, goats--800, and kids--240. As many as 100 per cent Nematodirus carriers were found on a sheep farm in the district. It was also found that the north plains of the district are less infected as against the south parts embracing the northern slopes of the Balkan mountain, and along the course of the Kamchia river. It was found that sheep on the private farm-holdings were more strongly infected than those on the cooperative farms. On the other hand, it was established that on farms where lambs and weaned lambs graze together with the adults the former prove more strongly infected than those that are on isolated grasslands.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1980

Efficacy of albendazole for prevention of fascioliasis in sheep.

Daily doses of albendazole administered as a premix in the feed for 35 days were effective in preventing Fasciola hepatica infections in 17 sheep in three groups: 5 mg/kg/day (6 sheep) was 100% effective; 3 mg/kg/day (5 sheep) was 98% effective; and 1 mg/kg/day (6 sheep) was 42% effective. Infective cysts were given daily for 5 days during the first week of treatment, treatment was continued an additional 28 days, and sheep were necropsied 14 weeks after final cyst inoculation. There were no visible lesions in any livers of sheep given albendazole at the rate of 5 mg/kg/day or in three of five livers of sheep dosed at the rate of 3 mg/kg/day. Sheep treated with albendazole had a mean weight gain of 2.7 kg, 4.0 kg, and 4.0 kg greater than the controls for the dosages of 1, 3, and 5 mg/kg/day, respectively. Determination of bile duct damage by measurement of serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity at 9 weeks after final cyst inoculation revealed increases of 3.0X, 1.0X, and 1.1X for the dosages of 1, 3, and 5 mg/kg/day, respectively, and 2.3X for the control, as compared with 7 weeks after final cyst inoculation.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1995

Serum swainsonine concentration and alpha-mannosidase activity in cattle and sheep ingesting Oxytropis sericea and Astragalus lentiginosus (locoweeds).

Serum alpha-mannosidase activity and swainsonine concentration were determined in 4 cattle and 15 sheep (3 groups of 5 each) that were administered ground locoweed (Oxytropis sericea or Astragalus lentiginosus) containing swainsonine at dosages of approximately 0.8 mg/kg of body weight/d (cows, 30 days each) and 0, 1.0, and 1.5 mg/kg/d (sheep, 11 days each). The cattle developed mild clinical signs of locoism, including signs of depression, lethargy, and slight intention tremors. Clinical signs of toxicosis were not observed in the sheep. Within 24 hours of initial treatment, serum alpha-mannosidase activity in cows and sheep, measured by the release of 4-methylumbelliferone from an artificial substrate, was markedly decreased to 28 and 40 mumol of 4-methylumbelliferone/L, respectively. Mean serum alpha-mannosidase activity of control cows and sheep was 400 +/- 94 and 422 +/- 42 (mean +/- SD), respectively. In the treated animals, decreased serum alpha-mannosidase activities returned to normal or higher activities within 6 days after treatment was discontinued. Using a jack bean alpha-mannosidase assay, increased swainsonine activity (153, 209, and 381 ng/ml, respectively) was detected in the serum of cattle and of sheep in the high- and low-dose groups within 24 hours after treatment with locoweed. Swainsonine concentration remained high, with mean concentrations of 204, 432, and 395 ng/ml (cows and 2 sheep groups, respectively) during the treatment period. After treatment, swainsonine was rapidly cleared, with estimated serum half-life of 16.4, 17.6, and 20.3 hours (cows, and high- and low-dose sheep groups, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1993

Serodiagnosis of paratuberculosis in sheep by use of agar gel immunodiffusion.

An agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test was used over a 3-year period to examine 1,871 serum samples from sheep representing 5 Mycobacterium paratuberculosis-infected flocks and 4 flocks presumed to be uninfected. Of 1,032 sheep, 31 had positive AGID test results (scoring 1 to 5), and 23 of these 31 were necropsied. Infection with M paratuberculosis was confirmed by 1 or more of the following findings: observation of typical lesions on histologic examination of sections of ileum or ileocecal lymph nodes, observation of clumps of acid-fast bacteria in mucosal smears of ileum, and isolation of the organism from feces or tissue. False-positive results on AGID testing were not found in sheep from flocks known to have exposure to Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. Diarrhea in infected sheep was observed infrequently; chronic, severe weight loss was the most common sign observed. On histologic examination of tissues from 20 infected sheep, 16 (80%) had diffuse lesions of the ileum and 13 (65%) had acid-fast bacteria in areas of ileal inflammation; 4 had discrete granulomas and peripheral lymphocytic infiltrates in the ileum. Sheep with diffuse lesions tended to have higher mean scores on AGID testing and examination for acid-fast bacteria, compared with those from sheep with more discrete lesions. Bacteriologic culture yielded M paratuberculosis from only 3 sheep with paratuberculosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1995

In vivo effects of a novel calcium antagonist (R56865) against induced epoxyscillirosidin and tulp poisoning in sheep.

Two anaesthetized sheep were intoxicated with epoxyscillirosidin, the main cardio-active bufadienolide, extracted from Homeria pallida (Natal yellow tulp). The epoxyscillirosidin was injected intravenously as a bolus of 50 micrograms/kg, followed 30 min later by a continuous infusion in a normal saline drip (0.9% NaCl) at 25 micrograms/kg/h. In addition, another two conscious sheep were poisoned by intraruminal dosing of 1,25 g/kg of dried H. pallida plant material. Electrocardiograms, heart and respiratory rates and venous-acid-base levels were recorded prior to and at approximately 30-60 min intervals during the course of the experiment. Additional recordings were made when animals showed signs of intoxication. R56865 (Janssen Pharmaceutica, Pty Ltd), a novel Ca++ antagonist, was administered at the first distinct signs of cardiac disturbances in the sheep given epoxyscillirosidin and after development of tachycardia and dyspnoea in those that received plant material. Activated charcoal was drenched at 3 g/kg to both sheep that received H. pallida about 1 h after the initial administration of R56865. All H. pallida sheep and one of the epoxyscillirosidin sheep survived. The signs of intoxication with H. pallida, namely groaning and tachypnoea, abated within minutes of treatment with R56865, but returned c. 30 min later in both animals. The treatment apparently had little effect on heart rate and EKG changes. One of the epoxyscillirosidin sheep was treated while exhibiting paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia. Although a transient improvement in conduction disturbance was recorded, the animal died soon afterwards. The results of this study indicate that the in vivo response of R56865 against induced bufadienolide cardiac disturbance in sheep is not as evident as that observed with R56865 against similar cardiac disturbance in vitro. The potential use of R56865 together with activated charcoal is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Experimental intoxication of sheep and cattle with Wedelia glauca.

Wedelia glauca was administered experimentally to 11 sheep and 4 cattle. The minimum toxic dose for both species was of 4 to 5 g of fresh plant/kg bw. Clinical signs were depression, muscle fasciculations, increased respiratory and cardiac frequencies, opisthotonous, sternal or lateral recumbency and terminal paddling movements. Time of onset of signs ranged from 12 to 40 h after dosing. Serum AST, LDH and GGT were increased. Three cattle and 5 sheep died after clinical manifestation periods of 2 to 18 h, and 2 sheep survived after being affected for 14 and 46 h. Macroscopic and histologic lesions were similar in cattle and sheep; the liver was swollen and dark reddish, and the wall of the gall bladder was edematous. The cavities had yellowish fluid. Petechiae and echymoses were seen on serous membranes. Microscopically the liver had periacinar hemorrhagic necrosis. Two sheep dosed with 1 g/kg bw daily for 20 d and 1 dosed with 1 g/kg bw for 10 d were not affected. Six sheep were transferred from an area free of W glauca to an area where this plant was present. These animals ate small amounts of the plant and lost weight rapidly, but clinical intoxication did not occur. Two sheep were fed with lucerne hay containing 9% W glauca. They ingested 2.5 g/kg of the dry plant (corresponding to 10 g/kg bw of fresh plant) in 24 h, but did not show intoxication. Because the intoxication occurred in sheep and cattle administered 4 to 10 g/kg bw of the plant in a period of 1 to 2 h, the intoxication may only occur when animals ingest a single toxic dose in a short time.

Animals↗