Hepatotoxicity in sheep and goats caused by experimental feeding with foxtail millet (Setaria italica)

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 Setaria italica (S. italica). 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 S. italica 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 50th 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 S. italica) 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 S. italica in the induction of hepatotoxicity and secondary photosensitivity in sheep and goats.