title: Endocrine alterations associated with ergopeptine alkaloid exposure during equine pregnancy.
abstract: Ergopeptine alkaloid exposure is common in pregnant mares. Many mares live in geographic areas where Neotyphodium coenophialum-infected tall fescue is the dominant grass in pastures and hay. A variety of grasses and cereal grains can be infected by Claviceps purpurea, and fungal sclerotia can contaminate forage and especially ground and pelleted feed. An understanding of the endocrine alterations associated with ergopeptine alkaloid exposure during pregnancy is necessary for the diagnosis of potential exposure to these compounds and for eective prophylaxis and therapy.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri at Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. evanst@missouri.edu
authors.forename: Tim J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000378:metabolism; D004876:Ergot Alkaloids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004881:Ergotism / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D006736:Horses; D006109:Poaceae / Q000382:microbiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D004876:Ergot Alkaloids