Liver Diseases of Ruminants and Camelids (Lakritz)

Question 1

Which of the following is far more common in ruminants/camelids?
a. Sub-clinical liver disease
b. Liver failure

Answer 1

a. Sub-clinical liver disease

Question 1

Which of the following is far more common in ruminants/camelids?
a. Sub-clinical liver disease
b. Liver failure

Answer 1

a. Sub-clinical liver disease

Question 2

What can you do since the liver cannot be directly evaluated in ruminants?

Answer 2

• Ultrasound evaluation
• Serum enzymology (blood profiles)
• You may be able to palpate the liver only if the liver is enlarged – caudal to 13 rib

Question 3

(T/F) Early liver disease is apparent to owners

Answer 3

False, inapparent to the owner

Question 4

List how liver disease looks to a client:

Answer 4

• Poor doer
• Failure to gain weight
• Weight loss
• Poor milk production
• Diarrhea, constipation
• Altered mentation
• Skin problems
• “Yellow eyes” (Icterus)

Question 5

Histotoxic Clostridial hepatitis
- In young rapidly growing animals
- Fall/winter poor feed quality
- Sudden death following fever, anorexia
- No hemoglobinemia or hemoglobinuria

Answer 5

Clostridium novyi type B (Infectious necrotic hepatitis)

Question 6

Histotoxic Clostridial hepatitis
- Sudden death associated with fever, anorexia
- Dark red port wine urine, blood does not clot
- Rarely seen ante mortem
- Mild icterus, petechia, ecchymoses, effusions
- Hemoglobinuria, hemoglobinemia

Answer 6

Clostridium novyi type D (Bacillary hemoglobinuria)

Question 7

Histotoxic Clostridial hepatitis: Prevention & Treatment

Answer 7

• Vaccination: Clostridial 7/8 way bacterin/toxoid
• Anthelmintic effective against flukes
  
  • Ivomec Plus (adult fluke), Valbazen

Question 8

• Toxins bioactivated in liver
• Reactive metabolites are powerful DNA alkylating agents
  - Cellular proteins modified (non-functional, new function)
  - Cross-link DNA (kills cells, induces polyploidy)
  Plants:
  
  • Crottalaria - “rattlebox”
  • Amsinckia - “fiddleneck”
  • Senecio - “tansy ragwort”

Answer 8

Pyrrolizidine alkaloid toxicity

Question 9

Pyrrolizidine alkaloid toxicity
Rank susceptibility from most susceptible to least susceptible:

Answer 9

Calves> Adults> Sheep/Goats

Question 10

In Pyrrolizidine alkaloid toxicity, do you see SDH elevation?

Answer 10

No, not elevated in PA toxicosis (chronic)
- BUT might see an increase in GGT serum

Question 11

• Over-conditioned dairy cows
  
  • Prolonged dry periods
  • Overfed, excessive body fat
• Excess body condition – over-saturate hepatocytes with lipid
• Hepatocytes cannot convert VFAs to energy, repackage lipids – transport
• NEFA’s then ketone production

Answer 11

Hepatic lipidosis (fat cow syndrome)

Question 12

** Need to know **
Hepatic lipidosis +/- Ketosis
Liver problem occurring:
- Post-partum in _________
- Pre-partum in __________
- Pre-partum _____________

Answer 12

• dairy cows
• beef cows (first calf/twins)
• sheep and goats

Question 13

• Metabolic disease occurring with peak energy demand
  - Intake does not match the output
• Dairy cow: first 3-4 weeks of lactation
• Beef cows: Last 2 months of gestation (twins or cows on poorly digestible forages)
• Mobilization of body fat (NEFA) to the liver
  - Over-conditioned cow during peak demand
  - Results in ketone production
  - Primary ketosis
  - Disease problems imposing anorexia with high energy demand result in the same metabolic process
  - Secondary ketosis

Answer 13

Ketosis

Question 14

Which of the following diagnostic tests would not be an appropriate diagnostic test for liver disease in both ruminants and camelids?

Answer 14

Serum bile acids

Question 15

Definition:
Grain engorgement and caudal vena cava syndrome

Answer 15

Multi-focal liver abscesses

Question 16

Copper toxicity primarily to ____________

Answer 16

small ruminants
- Sheep> Cattle/goat> Swine> Horse