Ts. Edrington et al., HEPATORENAL TOXICOSIS CHARACTERIZED IN SHEEP DOSED INTRARUMINALLY WITH SNAKEWEED FOLIAGE (GUTIERREZIA SPP), Veterinary and human toxicology, 35(6), 1993, pp. 506-508
To investigate the acute effects of snakeweed foliage (SW, Gutierrezia
spp), 6 ruminally fistulated wethers (avg BW 78.6 kg) were dosed intr
aruminally (2/dose) with 454 g ground SW foliage, 227 g SW + 227 g alf
alfa, or 454 g alfalfa daily for 5 d. Rumen fluid and blood samples we
re collected daily before SW dosage, and on day 6 the animals were eut
hanized and examined. At d 5, SW increased direct and indirect bilirub
in indicating impaired hepatocyte function with biliary involvement an
d cholestasis. Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase concentrations were eleva
ted, and pale yellowish enlarged livers were observed in SW-dosed anim
als. Serum creatinine concentrations were increased 2-fold by SW, sugg
esting renal impairment. Rumens from dosed animals were compacted with
hemorrhagic and necrotic mucosa suggesting SW-impaired rumen motility
and microbial fermentation. One wether dosed with 454 g SW died after
SW dosage for 2 d.