Clinical studies on tremorgenic mycotoxicoses in sheep
Penny, R.H.; O'Sullivan, B.M.; Mantle, P.G.; Shaw, B.I.
Veterinary Record 105(17): 392-393
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 552734 Document Number: 150948
The clinical responses of sheep dosed orally over 7-14 weeks with the dried mycelium of Penicillium verrucosum var. cyclopium containing the tremorgenic mycotoxin penitrem A are described. An initial tremor response was gradually overshadowed by an incoordination syndrome similar to that seen in ryegrass staggers. In spite of protracted staggers symptomatology, correlated with in vitro changes in the release of neurotransmitter amino acids from corpus striatum nerve ending preparations, no histological lesions were evident in the wide range of neural and other tissue studied. The biochemical nature of this reversible mycotoxicosis is discussed. The clinical responses of sheep dosed orally for 7-14 weeks with dried mycelium of Penicillium verrucosum var. cyclopium containing penitrem A are described. An initial tremoring response was gradually overshadowed by an incoordination syndrome similar to that seen in ryegrass staggers.