Bog asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum) poisoning in cattle

Abstract

Fifteen cows among a herd of 50 suckler cows and calves rapidly lost body condition and became dull and anorexic after grazing pasture containing bog asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum) during the summer of 1989. The affected cows had evidence of kidney damage characterised by elevated plasma urea and creatinine concentrations. Eleven cows died and diffuse renal tubular necrosis was present in three cows which were examined post mortem. Similar renal lesions were reproduced experimentally by feeding bog asphodel to a healthy calf.

Toxic Nephrosis in Moose in Norway

“…A similar outbreak was reported in a cattle herd in Northern Ireland in 1989 (Malone et al, 1992). Experimental studies have confirmed nephrotoxic effect of bog asphodel in both cattle (Malone et al, 1992;Flå øyen et al, 1995b), sheep (Flå øyen et al, 1995a), and goats (Flåøyen et al, 1997). The kidney lesions described in these studies were similar to those found by us in moose.…”

“…Of these plants oak (Quercus spp. ), bog asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum), and field sorrel (Rumex acetosella) are reported to be nephrotoxic to domestic ruminants (Humphreys, 1988;Malone et al, 1992;Maxie, 1993;Flå øyen et al, 1995a, b, c). However, the nephrotoxicity of field sorrel is associated with oxalate precipitation in the renal tubules (Maxie, 1993), a finding that did not occur in our material.…”

Narthecium ossifragum(L.) Huds. Causes Kidney Damage in Goats: Morphologic and Functional Effects

“…Four goats were kept as controls throughout the experiment (Nos. [22][23][24][25]. Two of these were anesthetized, and renal biopsies were taken on the same days as extract-treated animals (Nos.…”

“…The plant has also been associated with osteomalacia in cattle, therefore the species name ossifragum. 18 Several cases of severe bovine diseases related to ingestion of this plant were reported in Ireland in 1989, 22 and in 1992, similar such cases of disease were reported in cattle on pastures in Norway. 9,10 Clinical signs were depression, anorexia, melaena or fresh blood in the feces, and often diarrhea, leading to death in many cases.…”

“…Thirteen Norwegian dairy goats (Nos. [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] from the same herd, 11 males and two females, 5-7 week old, 6-to 11-kg body weight (mean 8.5 kg), were included. Four goats were kept as controls throughout the experiment (Nos.…”