title: Hepatotoxicity and secondary photosensitization in a red kangaroo (Megaleia rufus) due to ingestion of Lantana camara.
abstract: Three red kangaroos (Megaleira rufus), an adult male, an adult female, and a yearling, were exposed in bedding and food to coastal bermuda hay that contained the toxic plant Lantana camara. The adult male exhibited signs of anorexia, depression, lethargy, and jaundice. The adult female was presented dead. After 1 wk, following exposure to sunlight, the adult male and a yearling joey developed exudative dermatitis of the ear margins, eyelids, muzzle, and scrotum and opacity of the corneas. The adult male had a leucocytosis, anemia, bilirubinemia, bilirubinuria, hyperproteinemia, and elevated alanine aminotransferase, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, and bile acid serum levels. Postmortem examination of the adult male revealed jaundice, and the liver was swollen, mottled, and pale yellow to reddish yellow. The gall bladder was markedly distended. Histopathologically, there was hepatocellular enlargement with vesiculation of the nuclei and sporadic feathery degeneration of the cytoplasm. The yearling joey survived and was treated symptomatically with i.v. fluids and antibiotics. The history, clinical signs, diagnostic findings, necropsy findings, and exposure to the toxic plant Lantana camara support the diagnosis of secondary photosensitization and hepatoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843-4475, USA.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D001772:Blood Cell Count / Q000662:veterinary; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit / Q000662:veterinary; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D008394:Marsupialia; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010939:Plant Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D001663:Bilirubin