Abstract
A herd of 200 Japanese black breeding cows were fed moldy sweet potatoes. Among the herd, 30 of 45 pregnant cows showed respiratory syndrome and diarrhea, and 2 of them died. Necropsy of the dead cow revealed the presence of pulmonary grossly lesions, congestive edema, and the presence of liver ecchymosis. Microscopic observation showed pulmonary perivascular cuffing of lymphocytes. Blood biochemical data showed signs of liver dysfunction. No significant bacterium or virus was detected in the principal organs. Fusarium spp. -like hyphae and spores were observed in the culture media of the sweet potato sample. Ipomeamarone was detected in an extract of the sweet potato by thin layer chromatography (TLC). These observations strongly suggested that this case was caused by moldy sweet potato. TLC method is useful for quick diagnosis of moldy sweet potato poisoning without any special measuring instruments.
