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BMC veterinary research2022; 18(1); 80; doi: 10.1186/s12917-022-03162-2

Photodermatitis and ocular changes in nine horses after ingestion of wild parsnip (pastinaca sativa).

Abstract: Primary photosensitization rarely occurs in horses and can easily be misinterpreted. Descriptions of the disease in horses after ingestion of parsnip are lacking. The aim of this case series was to describe the dermatological and ocular changes due to photosensitization and to raise awareness of parsnip being a possible aetiologic agent. Methods: Nine horses from three different stables in Berlin and Brandenburg, Germany, presented variable degrees of erythema, scaling, crusting and necrosis of unpigmented skin at the head and prepuce. Horses were of different breeds with a median age of 15 ± 5.9 years. A mild leukocytosis was diagnosed in 1/9 horses at admission. Analyzed liver enzymes were within the reference ranges in all horses. Ocular changes were diagnosed as follows: blepharitis (3/9), conjunctivitis (7/9), corneal edema without additional signs of keratitis and/or uveitis (2/9), corneal edema with signs of uveitis (1/9) and photophobia (4/9). One horse developed a fluorescein positive corneal erosion. Skin biopsy (1/9) revealed a moderate to severe acute, eosinophilic and lymphocytic dermatitis with dermal edema and vasculitis. All stables housing these patients fed hay from the same distributer. Analyzed hay samples showed high contents of wild parsnip (plants, seeds, roots). Wild parsnip is widespread in Europe and contains furocoumarins, a family of photodynamic pigments, which may cause primary photodermatitis, keratoconjunctivitis and uveitis. Horses were treated according to severity of clinical symptoms systemically with flunixine meglumine (1.1 mg/kg BW 1-2x/day) or prednisolone (1 mg/kg BW 1x/day). Topically, either gentamicin (3x/day), dexamethasone (2-3x/day) and/or atropine (1x/day) were used. Skin care was provided with almond oil or dexpanthenol (2x/day). All horses were kept in a dark environment or were treated with sunscreen and facemasks. Duration of treatment varied from 6-30 days (median 11.3 days). Conclusions: Ingestion of wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) can induce primary photosensitization with dermatitis and ocular injury in horses. In times of extreme weather, hay may alter in botanical composition, resulting in high amounts of uncharacteristic plants causing novel problems.
© 2022. The Author(s).
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Publication Date: 2022-02-26 PubMed ID: 35219345PubMed Central: PMC8881838DOI: 10.1186/s12917-022-03162-2Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research explores the effects of wild parsnip ingestion on horses, focusing on dermatological and ocular changes. The study aims to raise awareness on parsnip as a possible cause of these changes.

Background and Objective

  • This research stems from a lack of data and understanding of the effects of wild parsnip ingestion on horses, especially concerning cases of photosensitization.
  • The objective is to describe and explain dermatological and ocular changes due to photosensitization in horses, raising awareness of wild parsnip as a possible cause of these changes.

Methods and Observations

  • Nine horses from three different stables in Germany were observed, each exhibiting various levels of redness, scaling, crusting, and necrosis in unpigmented skin at the head and genital area.
  • Only one out of the nine horses had mild leukocytosis at admission, and liver enzymes were found to be normal in all horses. Various ocular changes were diagnosed amongst the horses.
  • Skin biopsies revealed acute eosinophilic and lymphocytic dermatitis with dermal edema and vasculitis in one of the horses. The stables housing these horses were all found to receive hay from the same distributor.
  • Upon testing, the hay was found to contain high amounts of wild parsnip, a plant known for its content of furocoumarins, pigments that can cause primary photodermatitis, keratoconjunctivitis, and uveitis.

Treatment and Conclusion

  • The horses were treated according to the severity of their symptoms with flunixine meglumine or prednisolone and topically with gentamicin, dexamethasone and/or atropine. Skin care treatment was administered using almond oil or dexpanthenol.
  • The horses were either kept in a dark environment or had sunscreen and facemasks applied for their protection. Treatment lasted between 6 to 30 days.
  • The research concludes that the ingestion of wild parsnip (Pastinaca Sativa) can cause primary photosensitization leading to dermatitis and ocular injury in horses. Extreme weather may affect the botanical composition of hay, introducing a high amount of uncharacteristic plants and thus, novel problems.

Cite This Article

APA
Winter JC, Thieme K, Eule JC, Saliu EM, Kershaw O, Gehlen H. (2022). Photodermatitis and ocular changes in nine horses after ingestion of wild parsnip (pastinaca sativa). BMC Vet Res, 18(1), 80. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-022-03162-2

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 18
Issue: 1
Pages: 80
PII: 80

Researcher Affiliations

Winter, Judith C
  • Equine Clinic: Surgery and Radiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Thieme, Katharina
  • Equine Clinic: Surgery and Radiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany. katharina.thieme@fu-berlin.de.
  • Small Animal Clinic, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany. katharina.thieme@fu-berlin.de.
Eule, J Corinna
  • Small Animal Clinic, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Saliu, Eva-Maria
  • Institute of Animal Nutrition, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Kershaw, Olivia
  • Institute of Pathology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Gehlen, Heidrun
  • Equine Clinic: Surgery and Radiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Eating
  • Furocoumarins
  • Horse Diseases / chemically induced
  • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
  • Horses
  • Pastinaca
  • Photosensitivity Disorders / chemically induced
  • Photosensitivity Disorders / veterinary
  • Plant Breeding

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Berganayeva G, Kudaibergenova B, Litvinenko Y, Nazarova I, Sydykbayeva S, Vassilina G, Izdik N, Dyusebaeva M. Medicinal Plants of the Flora of Kazakhstan Used in the Treatment of Skin Diseases. Molecules 2023 May 19;28(10).
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