| Title | Indole-Diterpenes and Ergot Alkaloids in Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda Grass) Infected with Claviceps cynodontis from an Outbreak of Tremors in Cattle. | | Author(s) | Uhlig S, Botha CJ, Vrålstad T, Rolén E, Miles CO | | Institution | National Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 750 Sentrum, 0106 Oslo, Norway. | | Source | J Agric Food Chem 2009 Nov 5. | | Abstract | Tremorgenic syndromes in mammals are commonly associated with indole-diterpenoid alkaloids of fungal origin. Cattle are sometimes affected by tremors (also called "staggers") when they graze on toxic grass pastures, and Bermuda grass ( Cynodon dactylon , kweek) has been known to be associated with tremors for several decades. This study reports the identification of paspalitrems and paspaline-like indole-diterpenes in the seedheads of Claviceps cynodontis -infected Bermuda grass collected from a pasture that had caused a staggers syndrome in cattle in South Africa and thereby links the condition to specific mycotoxins. The highest concentration (about 150 mg/kg) was found for paspalitrem B. Ergonovine and ergine (lysergic acid amide), together with their C-8 epimers, were found to co-occur with the indole-diterpenes at concentrations of about 10 mug/kg. The indole-diterpene profile of the extract from the ergotized Bermuda grass was similar to that of Claviceps paspali sclerotia. However, the C. paspali sclerotia contained in addition agroclavine and elymoclavine. This is the first study linking tremors associated with grazing of Bermuda grass to specific tremorgenic indole-diterpenoid mycotoxins. | | Language | ENG | | Pub Type(s) | JOURNAL ARTICLE
| | PubMed ID | 19891432 |
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