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Objective: To identify the clinical signs, clinical pathology and pathological findings in experimental Echium italicum poisoning in native calves.
Design: Interventional study.
Animals: Ten native calves aged 5 to 7 months in two groups (experiment and control).
Procedure: The fresh E. italicum was fed as the sole diet to experimental calves during 8 weeks. Calcium, phosphorus, sodium,
creatinine, BUN, AST and GGT were determined in serum of calves at weekly intervals during the period of experiment. Histopathological examinations were performed on tissue samples.
Statistical analysis: One way ANaYA.
Results: This experimental study revealed a significant increase in
serum calcium, GGT and AST (P Clinical implications: It is concluded that E. italicum is not a
suitable fodder for calves and can be toxic due to its pyrrolizidine alkaloids. J. Fac. Vet. Med. Univ. Tehran. 58, 4:363-367, 2003.