title: Cardiomyopathy of ruminants induced by the litter of poultry fed on rations containing the ionophore antibiotic, maduramicin. I. Epidemiology, clinical signs and clinical pathology.
abstract: The epidemiological, clinical and clinical pathological findings in 20 cattle and 4 sheep from 15 outbreaks of poultry litter toxicity in South Africa over the past 6 years are documented. In 6 outbreaks, the litter emanated from batteries where maduramicin had been incorporated into rations of broilers. According to circumstantial evidence the litter involved in the 9 other outbreaks was also derived from broilers which had been fed on rations containing an ionophore. The litter was fed ad libitum to the affected stock or constituted 30-80% by volume of their rations. The principal sign manifested was sudden mortality of up to 70% of the herd or flock, usually within 20-40 days of commencement of feeding of poultry litter. A few cattle developed signs of congestive heart failure, and stiffness was commonly seen in sheep. In a dosing trial with poultry litter involving 1 steer and 6 sheep, the steer and a sheep died suddenly and a second sheep was destroyed in extremis. Tachycardia and/or cardiac arrythmia were recorded in 5 sheep, and the activity of aspartate transaminase (AST) and/or lactate dehydrogenase (LD) in the sera of 4 was elevated. Since the cardiac lesions in field cases were similar to those of ionophore poisoning and broiler rations containing maduramicin was a common factor in several outbreaks, toxic litter from some of these outbreaks were tested for the presence of this compound. Analysis by high performance liquid chromatography of litter from 2 specimens of outbreaks revealed that they contained 2.5 ppm and 6.1 ppm maduramicin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Section of Toxicology, Veterinary Research Institute, Onderstepoort.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fourie
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Bastianello
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Prozesky
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Nel
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Kellerman
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000506:poisoning; D000818:Animals; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002645:Chickens / Q000378:metabolism*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D007783:Lactones / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D007783:Lactones; C018091:maduramicin