Observations on the experimental poisoning of young geese with Ammi majus.

The plant Ammi majus (L.) was fed to 2 groups of young geese in an attempt to reproduce a field condition resembling photo-sensitization. The group exposed to sunlight developed skin lesions on the footweb and beak, whereas the group housed indoors appeared normal, together with the control group, which was not fed the plant but was exposed to sunlight. Blood was taken 29 d after commencement of the feeding trial, and rises in serum enzyme levels of lactic dehydrogenase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and isocitric dehydrogenase were noted in the group fed A. majus and kept indoors. Three days before sacrificing the birds, after 49 d of feeding the plant, blood was again taken and lowered levels of serum albumin were seen in both groups fed A. majus. Post-mortem macroscopic and histological examinations demonstrated severe liver damage in the birds fed A. majus and exposed to sunlight.