Hepatotoxicities Flashcards
What is one of the function of the liver?
Detoxify or activate incoming compounds
How do pyrrolizidine alkaloids affect the liver?
Phytotoxins metabolized by the liver cause progressive, irreverisble periportal fibrosis
What clinical signs does chronic ingestion of pyrrolizdine alkaloids cause?
Ill thrift, anorexia, depression, diarrhea, ascites, secondary photosensitization, weakness, hepatoencephalopathy, coma, death
How do you diagnose pyrrolizdine alkaloids?
Difficult though you will see elevated GGT and ALP with clinical signs
What is the prognosis of pyrrolizdine alkaloids toxicity?
Poor
Need high energy, low protein diet
What is the most common plant that contains pyrrolizdine alkaloids?
Tansy ragwort
> 5% in daily diet will cause death in 20 days
What are the toxic molecules in blue-green algae and mushrooms?
Hepatotoxic cyclic peptides
Result in disintegration of hepatocellular cytoskeleton
High dose ingestion leads to subacute death; low doses lead to liver failure and photosensitization
What are the toxic compounds in Lantana?
Triterpenoid compounds –> cause intrahepatic cholestasis
Clinical signs are anorectic, dehydrated, icteric, rumen stasis, photosensitization
What is an example of a mycotoxin?
Aflatoxin –> grow on corn, peanuts, and cotton seeds
[>1000 ppb] in feed cause severe liver lesions
[>650 ppb] over a few weeks may produce liver failure
[>350 ppb] over a month cause serious liver faliure
What can an overdose of copper cause?
Intravenous hemolysis following a few days of depression or inappetence
High intake dangerously increase storage levels
Stress triggers release –> erythrocytosis
When do you see iron overdoses?
In calves due to overdoses (rare)
What is the toxic dose of cockleburs and cycads?
0.3% of BW
Contains a glycoside toxin resulting in sever hypoglycemia and massive hepatic necrosis/ cirrhosis, ascites, and hemorrhagic gastroenteritis
Seeds and young plants most toxic
What are the clinical signs of cocklebur/ cycad toxicity?
Depression, dyspnea, weakness, convulsions w/ opisthotonus, sudden death
Is Ostertagia more commonly found in beef or dairy cattle? In what organ is it most commonly found in?
Beef cattle (grazers)
Abomasum –> increases pH and causes diarrhea
What are the two types of Ostertagia infection?
Type 1: Grazing period
- overstocking and failure to gain weight with dark green diarrhea
Type 2: Emergence of arrested larvae
– anthelmintic treatment, diet change, weather change
