Prevalence of ergot toxicity

摘要

Ergot toxicity or ergotism is caused by ingestion of cereal or grass grains infected by the fungus Claviceps pur-purea. The toxic agents (alkaloids) are produced by the fungus Claviceps purprea which attacks the embryo of the developing kernel forminga sclerotium, a black tangle of vegetative fungal strands. The sclerotium may contain more than 40 different fungal alkaloids.Ergotism is an ancient and well recognised condition in both humans and animals. In poultry, the consumption of feeds containing sufficient amounts of ergoty grains causes many signs. Signs of blackening of beaks, claws and feet, followed by necrosis ofthese parts are the most obvious.Ergot poisoning had been a major problem in livestock in the past. However, due to better management and safety checks in the feed manufacturing sector, the outbreaks of ergotism have declined in recent years. Consequently, even though the older producers may have experienced the problem first hand, the newer generation of professionals in the livestock sector are most likely to know ergotism only from textbooks.