Outbreak of ragwort (Senecio jacobea) poisoning in horses

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Five of 20 horses (25%) on 1 farm died from an acute hepatic encephalopathy typical of ragwort toxicosis. Circumstantial evidence implicated pasture rather than hay as the principal source of the toxic alkaloids. Plasma levels of .gamma.-glutamyl transferase (GGT) were determined on 3 occasions in all surviving ragwort-exposed horses. Elevated GGT levels were a useful early indicator of hepatic damage although not all horses with this biochemical sign developed clinical disease.