Acta vet. scand. 1995, 36, 277-278.

Brief Communication

N arthecium ossifragum Associated Photosensitization in Sheep in The Faroe Islands

Hepatogenous photosensitization in sheep is investigated localities below 300 m above sea an important problem in various parts of the level (a.s.l.), in 56% of localities at 300-600 m world. Most photosensitization diseases are a.s.l., and in none in the zone above 600 m associated with ingestion of or fungal a.s.l. (Hansen 1966). Above 300 m its growth toxins. The lily, , has is scattered and does not cover extensive long been associated with photosensitization areas as it does in the lowlands. in lambs in western Norway (Ender 1955, The disease is typical of lambs. About 20 Fla¢yen 1993) and in the northern regions of lambs, of a total population of 70 000 sheep, the British Isles (Ford 1964). are reported to become photosensitized each Photosensitization in sheep grazing N. ossifra• year. Most of these cases occur between 25 gum (in Farnese: Kattarkl6gv) occurs regu• June and 10 August. Usually a few cases (<5 larly in The Faroe Islands (Fla¢yen et al. cases) of photosensitization of adult sheep are 1994), but the problem is of minor importance reported in late April and early May. At that to the Farnese sheep industry and, to the time N. ossifragum is sprouting and there are knowledge of the authors, has not been re• few other green available as feed. The ported internationally before. In some parts sprouting N. ossifragum seems to be palatable of The Faroe Island the disease is known as to the adult sheep. Cases are seen on all is• "ormasjuka (literally: worm disease)" or lands on which N. ossifragum is found, but "lambia haranar upp i skorti (desiccation of most cases are reported on Eysturoy between the skin of the face of the lamb)". Noraskati and Eiai and on Streymoy between N. ossifragum is a loosely to densely clonal, Hvalvik and Tj0rnuvik. The disease occurs perennial herb, 5-30(-40) cm tall with a creep• mainly in sheep grazing lowland pastures. A ing rhizome. The plant occurs on oligotrophic, daily surveilance of the grazing animals is nor• mesotrophic and eutrophic peat deposits in mally not performed in The Faroe Islands, to 69° 42' N, in the British Isles, and unreported cases probably occur. The , , north-west Ger• The aetiology of the disease is not fully known many, west and central , northern (Fla¢yen 1993). Steroidal saponins from the and east (Summerfield 1974). plant have been suggested to be the actual In The Faroe Islands, N. ossifragum is very toxins (Ender 1955), but results from dosing common, except on the islands of Stora experiments in lambs suggest that the sapo• Dfmun, Lftla Dfmun, Koltur and Mykines nins alone may not be responsible (Flilf;Jyen et where it has not been found (Hansen 1966). It al. 1991). is a lowland plant. It was found in 92% of 135

Acta vet scand vol 36 no 2 - 1995 278 A. Flar;>yen et al.

Arne Fli1¢yen1, Johannes Johansen2 and Justmes Ol• toxication. Dr. med. vet. thesis, Norges veten• sen3 nrerh¢gskole. Oslo, 1993. 1Department of Reproduct10n and Forensic Med1- Fli1¢yen A, H1orth T¢nnesen H, Gr¢nst¢1 H, Karlsen cme, Norwegian College of Vetennary Medicine, J· Failure to mduce toxicity in lambs by admm1s• Pob. 8146 Dep., N-0033 Oslo, Norway. tenng saponms from Nartheczum oss1fragum. 2Museum of Natural History, Debesartr¢a, Fr-100 Vet. Res. Commun. 1991, 15, 483-487. T6rshavn, The Faroe Islands. Fli1¢yen A, Johansen J, Olsen J: Narthecium ossifra• 3Dj6ralreknatrenastan, Skansevegi 1, FR-100 T6rs• gum-associated photosensitization in sheep in havn, The Faroe Islands. the Faroe Islands. Froaskaparnt. 1994, 41, 103- 106. Ford EJH: A preliminary mvestigation of photosen• References s1tizat10n in Scottish sheep. J. Comp. Path. 1964, Ender F. Unders¢kelser over alveldsykens etiologi. 74, 37-44. (Etiological studies on "alveld" - a disease m• Hansen K: Vascular plants m the Faeroes. Dansk volving photosensitization and 1cterus in lambs). Botamsk Arkiv. Dansk Botamsk Forenmg, K¢• Nor. Vet.-Med. 1955, 7, 329-377. benhavn, Denmark, 1966, 24, 3, pp. 141. Fli1¢yen A: Studies on the aetiology and pathology of Summerfield RJ: B1olog1cal flora of Bntish Isles. J. alveld with some comparisons to spondesmm m- Ecol. 1974, 162, 325-339.

(Accepted February 13, 1995).

Reprints may be obtained from: A. Fli'l¢yen, Department of Reproduction and Forensic Med1cm Norwegian College of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 8146 Dep., N-0033 Oslo, Norway.

Acta vet scand vol 36 no 2 - 1995