title: Elemental sulfur toxicosis in a flock of sheep.
abstract: Two thousand Panama X Rambouillet ewes from a flock of 2,200 developed signs of acute toxicosis after being moved to a field that had been sprayed 16 hours earlier with elemental sulfur. Acute signs were lethargy, abdominal discomfort, and prostration. Two hundred six (10%) of the affected ewes died within 24 hours. Polioencephalomalacia that was unresponsive to thiamine treatment developed in another 40 (2%) of the ewes; 28 (70%) of the ewes with polioencephalomalacia recovered. Sulfur is converted to hydrogen sulfide in the rumen. Signs of sulfur toxicosis are a result of absorption of hydrogen sulfide and interaction with the cytochrome system and hemoglobin. Sulfide is detoxified in the RBC and by the liver.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Veterinary Science, Caine Veterinary Teaching and Research Center, University of Idaho, Caldwell 83605, USA.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bulgin
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Lincoln
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mather
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004678:Encephalomalacia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000378:metabolism; D012417:Rumen / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013455:Sulfur / Q000378:metabolism / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D013455:Sulfur; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide