The epidemiological and pathological aspects of 19 outbreaks of photosensitization in cattle, observed in southern Brazil, between 1984 e 1997 were studied. The disease occurs mainly in spring and fall with morbidity of 0.08% to 64% and mortality of 0 to 14%. Cattle of all ages are affected. The pastures on which outbreaks occur are characterized by low, flat and wet land, used alternatedly for rice or other crops and natural or cultured pastures of clover, oat and ryegrass. The disease is characterized clinically by depression, anorexia, salivation and photosensitization of white or slightly colored and hairless skin such as muzzle, nostrils, eyelids, udder, groin and vulva. In severe cases the skin, mainly of dorsal midline and legs, was thickened, necrotic and sloughed revealing a raw area of subcutaneous tissue. The macroscopic lesions were tipically related to hepatic insuficiency. Jaundice, yellow to orange discoloration and swelling of the liver, edema of the gall bladder, excess of serous fluid in body cavities and occasionally subcutaneous and peritoneal edema were observed. The histological changes are characterized by degenerative changes of hepatocytes that are diffusely or zonal vacuolated and swollen. Individual or ramdomly scattered foci of hepatocellular necrosis, bile ductular proliferation, and portal fibrosis were also observed. The disease was characterized as a bovine hepatogenous photosensitivity syndrome resulting from primary damage to the liver parenchyma. The etiology is unknown and the main known causes of hepatogenous photosensitivity in cattle were ruled out.
photosensitivity; hepatogenous photosensitivity; cattle
