[Diagnostic value of total plasma levels of bile acids and ammonia in liver diseases in sheep].

For the estimation of the diagnostic value of plasma concentrations of total bile acids and ammonia in liver disease healthy controls (n = 23) as well as animals sick with different diseases were examined. The reference values for total bile acids and ammonia in the plasma of sheep range from 18-166 mumol/l and 15-64 mumol/l, respectively. While animals with chronic copper poisoning (n = 18), vitamin E/selenium deficiency (n = 15) and with diseases not affecting the liver (n = 8) did not show significant differences in concentrations of total bile acids and ammonia from those of the healthy controls, this could be proven for animals with severe hepatopathy or hepatoencephalopathy. Furthermore, some of the latter group showed increased ammonia concentrations in the liquor cerebrospinalis and multifocal vacuolation of the central nervous system. The determination of total bile acids and ammonia in the diagnosis of liver disease in sheep would also be useful. The hepatoencephalic syndrome should therefore be considered as possible differential diagnosis in animals showing neurological signs.