Telangiectasis

Telangiectasis is a condition of the liver affecting cattle, sheep poultry and horses. The lesions are characterised by focal dilatation and congestion of the hepatic sinusoids.

All animals may be affected by the lesions but they are more commonly seen in older animals. There is little clinical significance to the disease but affected animals are a significant cause of direct economic loss due to carcass condemnation at slaughter. Various aetiologies for the condition have been suggested. It has been proposed that telangiectasis is caused by ischaemic necrosis relating to a number underlying causes including pregnancy, abdominal tympany and bacterial infection with Fusobacterium necrophorum. Other theories include a neoplastic or immune-mediated process.

Following slaughter, animals with mildly affected livers may be passed for food following trimming but severely affected carcasses must be condemned.