title: Blue-green algae toxicosis in cattle.
abstract: Twenty-four of 175 heifers died after ingesting water from a stock pond containing blue-green algae (genus Microcystis) in southern Colorado. Affected cattle were found dead or had signs of nervousness, and were recumbent, weak, anorectic, and hypersensitive to noise when first examined. All cattle died within 3 days after the onset of signs. At necropsy, the rumen contained blue-green algae, and the liver was larger than normal, friable, and dark red. The most important histologic lesion was hepatocyte degeneration and necrosis. Intraperitoneal administration of lyophilized cell material from the bloom caused hepatic necrosis and death in mice, and water from the pond had clumps of cells surrounded by a clear calyx, consistent with the appearance of organisms of the genus Microcystis. Samples of pond water were examined by means of high-pressure liquid chromatography; microcystin-LR, one of the hepatotoxins produced by Microcystis spp, was found. Chromatography may be useful in the diagnosis of blue-green algae toxicosis.
authors.affiliation: California Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System, University of California, Davis 95616, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Puschner
authors.forename: F D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Galey
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Dickie
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vondy
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Holstege
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000662:veterinary; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000032:analysis / Q000382:microbiology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008387:Marine Toxins; D051379:Mice; D052998:Microcystins; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*; D012417:Rumen / Q000382:microbiology; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D008387:Marine Toxins; D052998:Microcystins; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; C057862:cyanoginosin LR