1997 Volume 50 Issue 6 Pages 321-326
In March 1996, cattle and sheep died one after another in five farms after feeding a lot of Australian oaten hay. The patients had nervous disorders including muscular tremor, opisthotonus and epileptiform seizures as well as elevated levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase and creatin kinase. At autopsy the liver was pale and swollen and histopathology revealed hepatic lipidosis and cerebrocortical edema. The oaten hay concerned contained annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum)(10.3 to 15.2%), and corynetoxin was detected from the seeds. After experimental feeding of the contaminated oaten hay the cattle showed clinical as well as pathological signs similar to those observed in field cases.
