Ergotism in feedlot cattle: clinical, hematological, and pathological findings

Consumption of grains, contaminated with Claviceps purpurea , may cause ergotism in animals. Ruminants are considered relatively sensitive to ergotism, manifesting four different clinical syndromes: gangrenous, hyperthermia, and nervous forms, and reproductive disorders. Of these, gangrenous form is the most common one in cattle, causing significant economic loss. Fifty feedlot cattle with tail and ear tip loss, and progressive emaciation were observed in two herds in Varamin. Vital signs such as heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, rumen contraction, and other clinical features were recorded in affected cattle. Two blood samples were collected from 15 patients and 15 normal cattle for hematological examination and biochemical analyses. Six affected cattle were necropsied and specimens were collected from different organs. The difference between vital signs in affected cattle and the normal cattle was not significant ( p > 0.05). Loss of ear tips, tail, and hooves, emaciation, depression, hyperexcitability, incoordination, recumbency, and convulsion were seen in the affected cattle. A significant increase in lymphocytes, eosinophil, serum fibrinogen concentration, and serum levels of AST and CK was seen in patients compared to normal cattle. Moreover, plasma protein concentration, segmented neutrophils, and serum calcium levels were decreased significantly comparing to the control group. Hyperemia, inflammation, and necrosis were the common lesions observed in histopathology. Ergocorine and ergocristine were the two causative alkaloids in our patients. Histopathological findings were consistent with vasoconstriction.