Ultrasonographic findings in three cows with chronic ragwort (Senecio alpinus) poisoning

Three cows with ragwort (Senecio alpinus) poisoning were examined clinicall y haematologically and ultrasonographically, and biopsy specimens of the li ver were examined histologically. At the end of the study, the cows were eu thanased and examined postmortem. The major clinical signs included severel y disturbed general demeanour and behaviour, and severe diarrhoea. One cow was photosensitive. The activities of liver enzymes and the concentration o f bilirubin were high in all of the cows. In two of the cows, ultrasonograp hic examination revealed a heavy accumulation of abdominal fluid, which was diagnosed as non-inflammatory ascites. In all the cows, the liver parenchy ma was heterogeneous, and cows 1 and 2 had multiple echogenic foci 5 to in mm in diameter. In cow 3, the facies diaphragmatica of the liver appeared i rregular in outline owing to the presence of nodules which were approximate ly 5 cm in diameter. The liver was also greatly enlarged and extended almos t to the linea alba ventrally and beyond the reticulum cranially. Ail the c ows had portal hypertension and the portal vein was dilated, resulting in o edema of the walls of the gall bladder, the small intestines and the omentu m. The diameter of the caudal vena cava was reduced as a result of the impa ired hepatic circulation. Histological examination of liver biopsy specimen s revealed severe hepatic fibrosis in all the cows.