Ergotism and Photosensitization in Swine Produced by the Combined Ingestion of Claviceps Purpurea Sclerotia and Ammi Majus Seeds

Abstract

Abstract. Poisoning of domestic animals happens frequently in the southeast of Buenos Aires Province (Argentina). Intoxications are produced mainly by the ingestion of plants and mycotoxins, but animals are rarely affected simultaneously by both types of agents. One herd of pigs suffered simultaneous intoxications by ergot alkaloids from Claviceps purpurea sclerotia and furocoumarins from Ammi majus seeds. Pigs were fed a diet composed of wheat (poor quality) or corn and protein and vitamin supplements. This diet was completed with forage sorghum. Nervous signs were first observed 5-7 days after the initiation of feeding the suspect ration. These signs were followed by cutaneous irritation. Snout ulcers, eyelid edema, and conjunctivitis were observed in several piglets. Ten days after the start of feeding the incriminated ration, 8 abortions were observed. Many of the sows that were nursing piglets developed udder edema and teat cracking. Dermal lesions were observed in most of the animals with unpigmented areas in the skin but not in a Duroc-Jersey boar. Removal of the incriminated diet and feeding of another diet prepared with good-quality wheat allowed all the animals to recover in 15 days. The herd experienced normal pregnancies and parturitions, litter sizes, and piglet weights when fed a cleaned portion of the poor-quality wheat. No photosensitization lesions were observed. Examination of impurities in the suspected wheat indicated the presence of 2.2% of A. majus seeds and 0.14% of C. purpurea sclerotia. The quantitative analysis indicated the presence of 3.2 g xanthotoxin and 0.65 g bergaptene/100 g A. majus seeds and 0.73 g ergot alkaloids (expressed as ergonovine) per 100 g of C. purpurea sclerotia. Qualitative analysis demonstrated the presence of ergotamine, ergocristine, and ergonovine. These results indicate that clinical signs and lesions were caused by the ingestion of large quantities of these biologically active compounds.

The Globalization of Traditional Medicine in Northern Peru: From Shamanism to Molecules

“…Other early botanical explorers include Raimondi [23], Larco Herrera [35], Valdizan and Maldonado [36], Soukop [37], López et al [38], Chavez (1977), de Ferreira [39, 40], and Duke and Vásquez [41]. However, it was John Harshberger who used the term ethnobotany for the first time in Peru while Juana Infantes actually established the discipline at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos in 1945 [34].…”

“…Apiaceae, however are particularly well documented. López et al [38] documented that neurophysiological activity in Ammi majus seeds. Celery ( Apium graveolens ) is wisely used traditionally and has been found to be neuroactive [164–167].…”

Diagnostic différentiel des troubles à expression nerveuse dans l’espèce bovine en Europe occidentale

“…Certains de ces végétaux toxiques peuvent être rencontrés dans les campagnes et peuvent induire des TEN. Une énumération non exhaustive inclut : l'if (intoxication subaiguë par Taxus baccata) (22,124), de nombreuses plantes cyanogènes (laurier cerise, sureau, lin, sorgho) (20,22), les glands de chêne (95), le ray-grass quand celui-ci est parasité par Neotyphodium ou Acremonium (10,34), le seigle quand celui-ci est parasité par Claviceps purpurea (ergotisme) (11,62,94), la grande ciguë (6), le buis, le thuya, la morelle noire, la belladone, l'oenanthe safranée, le rhododendron, l'azalée et le cytise (20).…”

Thermoregulatory Response of Dairy Cows Fed Ergotized Barley during Summer Heat Stress

“…Milling practices and sample grading have eliminated the potential human risk of ergot, however, low levels of ergot contamination occur in human cereal grain consumables. 24 Outbreaks of ergotism continue to occur in cattle, 3,7,[10][11][12]15,16,18,20,23,27 swine, 2,4,6,8,14,17 and horses 19 in a number of countries including the United States. Incidence is most often associated with grazing pasture grasses heavily infected with C. purpurea or consuming ground or pelleted feedstuffs that have incorporated ergot-contaminated cereal grains or screenings.…”

“…7,16,27 During warm weather, a summer hyperthermia syndrome is associated with cattle ingest-ing ergot-contaminated feedstuffs. 12,14,20,23 This problem is accentuated when animals are exposed to excessive heat stress or the physical force/effect of the hot environment. The outcome is heat strain, as evidenced by hyperthermia and elevated respiration rate (RR), water intake, and urination.…”