BIOPSIA HEPÁTICA NO DIAGNÓSTICO DA ESTEATOSE EM OVINOS

LIVER BIOPSY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF STEATOSIS IN SHEEP Pregnancy toxaemia is a common metabolic disorder in sheep flocks which is characterized by the sheep’s inability to keep its energetic balance in the last month of pregnancy. It usually causes hepatic steatosis and death by hepatic encephalopathy. A histopathological assessment of liver biopsies provides evidence of severe fatty degeneration of the liver. An early and accurate diagnosis is essential, reinforcing the importance of liver biopsy. In order to prevent pregnancy toxaemia, it is important to carry out a percutaneous liver biopsy by comparing histopathological, clinical, and laboratory findings. Ultrasound-guided biopsy as a supplementary examination may be useful in diagnosing both subclinical and clinical hepatic steatosis in sheep. In this study, there were few and non-specific clinical and laboratory changes – such as serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, gama-glutamyl transferase, total plasmatic protein, albumin and globulins, glycaemia, and ketone bodies in urine. Liver biopsy proved its effective detection of steatosis cases on animals. The presence of light to moderate hepatic steatosis on clinically healthy animals may be normal, which increases the need for new studies to prove the importance of liver biopsy as a preventive measure.