Aspergillus clavatusas the probable cause of a lethal mass neurotoxicosis in sheep
✍ Scribed by A. Shlosberg; I. Zadikov; S. Perl; B. Yakobson; Y. Varod; D. Elad; E. Rapoport; V. Handji
- Publisher
- Springer Netherlands
- Year
- 1991
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 603 KB
- Volume
- 114
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0301-486X
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✦ Synopsis
Sprouted barley grains, the waste product of malt extract production, were incriminated as the cause of a lethal (96% mortality) neurotoxic syndrome in sheep fed the grains. Clinical manifestations, comprising tremors, lameness, abnormal gait, paralysis and death indicated a tremorgenic mycotoxicosis. Whilst 50% of the flock died within 17 days, mortality continued over more than 5 months. Pathological findings were limited to neuronal degeneration and necrosis in the midbrain. Germinating grains were shown to be contaminated with growth of Aspergillus clavatus.