Kleingrass-associated hepatotoxicosis in horses.

The research article discusses the diagnosis of chronic liver disease in six horses which had consumed kleingrass. The disease was associated with abnormal symptoms such as weight loss, anorexia, and changes in their liver. Three healthy horses were also observed developing liver lesions and other symptoms after being fed kleingrass over a period of 90 days.

Diagnosis of Chronic Liver Disease in Horses

• The research focused on six horses exhibiting symptoms of anorexia and weight loss. Upon diagnosis, it was confirmed that these horses were suffering from chronic hepatic disease.
• These horses also had unusually high serum gamma-glutamyltransferase activities, total and direct bilirubin and blood ammonia values, and sulfobromophthalein clearance times. However, their serum iditol dehydrogenase, aspartate transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase activities varied.
• Histologic examination of the horses’ livers revealed signs of chronic hepatitis with differing degrees of fibrosis. This chronic hepatitis led to the implication of kleingrass in the disease genesis.

Association with Kleingrass

• All of the six diagnosed horses had consumed kleingrass for varying durations, leading to the proposition that kleingrass is a contributing factor to the illness.
• In order to further establish the correlation, three healthy horses were monitored after being fed kleingrass hay over a period of 90 days. These horses also developed hepatic lesions and an increase in serum gamma-glutamyltransferase activities, similar to the symptoms observed in the initially diagnosed horses.

Characteristics of Hepatic Lesions

• The noteworthy hepatic lesions in both the afflicted horses and those deliberately fed kleingrass included bridging hepatic fibrosis, cholangitis, and hepatocellular regeneration.
• This confluence of symptoms, irrespective of the initial state of the horses, links kleingrass to the onset of these chronic hepatic disorders and contributes a notable insight to equine pathology and treatment.