![]() leaves and flowers rise from a horizontal creeping stem.The following general descriptions of the non toxic white and red clovers will help veterinarians and horse owners distinguish them from alsike clover. Descriptions and images of many of these plants can be viewed by accessing the Canadian Poisonous Plants Information System. Phenothiazine-derived anthelmintics, sulfonamides, and tetracyclines have also been associated with this condition. ![]() This is commonly seen in pyrrolizidine alkaloid-containing plants, such as tansy ragwort, groundsel, fiddleneck, common heliotrope, vipers bugloss (blue weed), and rattlebox. Photodynamic agents in certain plants accumulate in the liver and react with ultraviolet light to cause the dermatitis. Veterinarians will need to differentiate between alsike clover poisoning and other types of photosensitization by walking horse pastures and examining hay for potential photodynamic agent-containing plants. Liver biopsy may be required to characterize the degree and type of liver damage and provide a prognosis. The primary tests for evaluating liver function and hepatic disease measure the serum enzyme activity of aspartate amino transferase ( AST), gamma glutamyl transferase ( GGT), sorbitol dehydrogenase ( SDH) and lactic dehydrogenase - 5 ( LDH-5). It appears that this is related to the accumulation of a yet unidentified toxin. The longer-term consequence of alsike clover consumption is "big liver syndrome", appearing as a progressive destruction of the liver with increased connective tissue (biliary cirrhosis). Diarrhea and colic may also be experienced. Close observation of the oral mucosa of the mouth and under the tongue may reveal peticheal haemorrhage and linear ulcers. In these cases, a slight edema of the skin may be the only noticeable sign. Horses that are not outside during the day, blanketed while outside, or have minimum exposure to ultraviolet light may not show the hair loss and crusty inflamed skin typical of photosensitization. Kingsbury also describes "symptoms of nervous and digestive disorders," including colic and diarrhea and oral lesions related to alsike clover poisoning footnote 3. The more common and acute lesions related to alsike clover are photosensitization characterized by "reddening of the skin under the influence of sunlight, followed by either superficial or deep dry necrosis of the skin or by edematous swelling and serous discharge," resulting in crusty inflamed areas, especially in the unpigmented pink-skinned areas of the face. There is also a potential for nitrate poisoning with alsike clover footnote 2. This problem has occurred mainly in horses and, occasionally, in cattle. Horses show the photosensitization syndrome with short-term exposure, while liver damage and enlargement is usually associated with long-term exposure. Although the toxicity has been described for 70 years, the actual toxin is unknown. Schofield, former Dean of the Ontario Veterinary College footnote 1. The original condition was described by Dr. It should be differentiated from red clover, which has a larger flower, hairy stems and leaves and a white inverted "V" on the leaf similar to the white clovers.Īlsike clover is know to cause two syndromes, photosensitization and big liver syndrome. It grows 15–30 inches in height with a small ½–inch diameter pink flower, which forms at the ends of secondary branches from the main stem. ![]() This plant is adapted to cool climates and heavy, poorly drained clay soils. Alsike clover ( Trifolium hybridum) is found most frequently in the farming areas of northern Canada but has been included in a number of commonly used pasture mixes.
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