Mortality and evidence of clinical-pathological abnormalities in captive Mouflon sheep (Ovis orientalis) after inclusion of cottonseed cake in their ration

Necropsies of three mouflon sheep (ovis orientalis),died with the history of labored breathing,dyspnea,anorexia,depression,pendulous abdomen,enteritis and sudden death were performed. the animals had a history of consuming diet containing cottonseed cakes made from seeds of bt (bacillus thuringiensis) cotton after ginning. postmortem examination revealed hydrothorax,hydropericardium,congested and edematous lungs,ascites,hepatomegaly and splenomegaly. microscopic examination of the morbid liver revealed severe congestion and centrilobular necrosis with marked atrophy of hepatocytes around the central vein. histologically,the lungs were congested and edematous. marked congestion was also observed in splenic parenchyma. the clinical picture,gross and microscopic findings and history of inclusion of cottonseed cake in feeding regime were suggestive of cottonseed cake toxicity in mouflon sheep and could have led to death. © 2017 university of agriculture. all rights reserved.