Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

North American Hard Yellow Liver Disease: An Old Problem Readdressed, Bryan L. Stegelmeier, Meredyth Jones, Christopher P. Womack, T Zane Davis, Dale R. Gardner

Poisonous Plant Research (PPR)

Hard yellow liver disease or fatty cirrhosis periodically affects cattle, sheep, goats, pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana) and whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus texanus) within several Texas counties in the United States. Clinically it presents as chronic liver disease with progressive hepatic necrosis and fibrosis, icterus and liver failure. The damaged livers are yellow and many have multiple firm, often gritty foci that are scattered throughout all lobes. Early investigations included feeding studies using potential toxic plants, climate and forage studies, infectious disease surveys and various mycotoxin studies and analyses. None have definitively reproduced the disease or identified the inciting …