Synonyms

No known synonym

Name of the disease in English

Ergot poisoning-Respiratory form

The disease in brief

Ergot poisoning can take different clinical forms; the respiratory form described here is due to the vasoconstrictor effect of ergovaline-type alkaloids. This clinical form will be favored by high ambient temperatures; it is nicknamed summer syndrome in the United States. It is caused by fodder or grains contaminated by ergot; contaminated fodder is not visible to the naked eye, whereas ergot is visible on grains.

Clinic & diagnosis

The disease is suspected by observing the appearance of collective polypnea in ruminants.

Coughing, changes in respiratory movement or noises added to auscultation may be noted; the fever is inconstant. Circumstances (high temperature, ergot) can help to support a suspicion.

Typical sign of the disease

No description

Pictures

See below

Diagnostic formulas

No description

Differential diagnosis

-Compensatory shortness of breath-heat stroke-RS23

-Verminous bronchitis - typical form RS21

-Acute farmer's lung disease RS20

-Nitrate or nitrite poisoning TX1.3

Confirm a suspicion?

Confirmation can be obtained by examining the seeds consumed by cattle, which can detect sclerotia. If the source of the toxin is fodder, only analysis in a specialized laboratory can provide an answer.

Prognosis and treatment

The prognosis is good; treatment in cattle is limited to removing them from the contamination; symptomatic treatment may help with recovery, such as providing shade to the cattle and drinking water at will.

Prevention

Prevention will focus on the observation of distributed cereals which must not contain visible ergot sclerotia.

References

-Large animal internal Medecine-5^th edition. SMITH B.BP. Mosby ed; p 1601-1602