University of Tehran Iranian Journal of Veterinary Medicine 2251-8894 9 2 2015 07 01 Hepatotoxicity in sheep and goats caused by experimental feeding with foxtail millet (Setaria italica) سمیت کبدی ناشی از تغذیه تجربی با ارزن دم روباهی (Setaria italica) در گوسفند و بز 79 86 54005 10.22059/ijvm.2015.54005 EN ‌Arash Omidi Department of Animal Health Management, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran Fateme Izadi Yazanabadi Department of Animal Sciences, Agriculture Faculty, Birjand University, Birjand, Iran Ukabod Esmaeilpour Department of Animal Sciences, Agriculture Faculty, Birjand University, Birjand, Iran. Mohammad-ali Behdani Department of Agronomy, Agriculture Faculty, Birjand University, Birjand, Iran Mohammad Reza Aslani Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Sharekord University, Shahrekord, Iran Journal Article 2014 10 21 Background: Some species of grass cause poisoning and hepatogenous photosensitization in animals. OBJECTIVES: Feeding trials were conducted in sheep and goats to evaluate the hepatotoxic effects of <em>Setaria italica</em> (<em>S. italica</em>). METHODS: Twelve indigenous male sheep and goats were used in this study. The animals were kept outdoors against prevailing climatic conditions. They were fed with <em>S. italica</em> freely for 50 days. Some biochemical factors associated with liver function, such as total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (BC), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma  glutamyltransferase (GGT) activities, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), total protein (TP), and albumin (ALB), were measured on day 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, and 49 of the experiment. On the 50^th day, the animals were sacrificed and necropsied,  then the gall bladder and livers were removed for pathological study. Blood samples on day 0 (prior to feeding with <em>S. italica</em>) were set as the control group.                 RESULTS: Three sheep and 3 goats showed signs of intoxication, including facial edema, mucus hyperemia, runny nose, lacrimation, and icterus. Post-mortem examination revealed varying degrees of generalized icterus, degeneration, necrosis and cell swelling of hepatocytes, formation of acidophilic bodies, and mild hyperplasia in biliary ducts. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical signs, laboratory findings, and necropsy findings, support the potential of <em>S. italica</em> in the induction of hepatotoxicity and secondary photosensitivity in sheep and goats. <br />  <br />  https://ijvm.ut.ac.ir/article_54005_fc0971b16f7feab4492bba9e2b3a94b7.pdf