Journal of Equine Veterinary Science
Volume 28, Issue 11 , Pages 666-671 , November 2008

Review on Effects of Fescue Grass Ergot Alkaloids in the Horse and Preliminary Study on Effect of Fescue Grass Ergot Alkaloid in the Stallion

  • R. Fayrer-Hosken, BVSc, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: R. Fayrer-Hosken, BVSc, PhD, Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-7385.
    • ,
  • G. Heusner, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
    • ,
  • N. Hill, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
    • ,
  • A. Caudle, DVM

      Affiliations

    • Watkinsville, GA

References 

  1. Youngblood RC, Filipov NM, Rude BJ, Christiansen DL, Hopper RM, Gerard PD, et al. Effects of short-term early gestational exposure to endophyte-infected tall fescue diets on plasma 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid and fetal development in mares. J Anim Sci. 2004;82:2919–2929
  2. Malinowski DP, Belesky DP, Hill NS, Baligar VC, Fedders JM. Influence of phosphorus on the growth and ergot alkaloid content of Neotyphodium coenophialum-infected tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). Plant Soil. 1998;198:53–61
  3. Jacobsen B, Coppock R. Mycotoxins and mycotoxicoises. Available at: http://diagnostics.montana.edu/GPDN/Mycotoxin/MYCOTOXINS.pdf. Accessed June 12, 2008.
  4. Clay K, Schardl CL. Evolutionary origins and ecological consequences of endophyte symbiosis with grasses. Am Nat. 2002;160:S99–S127
  5. Schardl CL, Grossman RB, Nagabhyru P, Faulkner JR, Mallik UP. Loline alkaloids: currencies of mutualism. Phytochemistry. 2007;68:980–996
  6. Arechavaleta M, Bacon CW, Plattner RD, Hoveland CS, Radcliffe DE. Accumulation of ergopeptide alkaloids in symbiotic tall fescue grown under deficits of soil water and nitrogen fertilizer. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1992;58:857–861
  7. Adcock RA, Hill NS, Boerma HR, Ware GO. Sample variation and resource allocation for ergot alkaloid characterization in endophyte-infected tall fescue. Crop Sci. 1997;37:31–35
  8. Preusch PL, Adler PR, Sikora LJ, Tworkoski TJ. Nitrogen and phosphorus availability in composted and uncomposted poultry litter. J Environ Qual. 2002;31:2051–2057
  9. Hill N. Absorption of ergot alkaloids in the ruminant. In: Neotyphodium in Cool-Season Grasses. Roberts C, West C, Spiers D, eds. Blackwell Publishing: Ames 2005.
  10. Schultz CL, Lodge-Ivey SL, Bush LP, Craig AM, Strickland JR. Effects of initial and extended exposure to an endophyte-infected tall fescue seed diet on faecal and urinary excretion of ergovaline and lysergic acid in mature geldings. N Z Vet J. 2006;54(4):178–184
  11. Putnam MR, Bransby DI, Schumacher J, Boosinger TR, Bush L, Shelby RA, et al. Effects of the fungal endophyte Acremonium coenophialum in fescue on pregnant mares and foal viability. Am J Vet Res. 1991;52:2071–2074
  12. Ryan PL, Bennett-Wimbush K, Vaala WE, Bagnell CA. Systemic relaxin in pregnant pony mares grazed on endophyte-infected fescue: effects of fluphenazine treatment. Theriogenology. 2001;56:471–483
  13. Loch WE, Swantner LD, Anderson RR. The effects of four levels of endophyte-infected fescue seed in the diet of pregnant pony mares. J Reprod Fertil Suppl. 1987;35:535–538
  14. Copetti MV, Santurio JM, Boeck AA, Silva RB, Bergermaier LA, Lubeck I, et al. Agalactia in mares fed with grain contaminated with Claviceps purpurea. Mycopathologia. 2002;154:199–200
  15. Redmond LM, Cross DL, Strickland JR, Kennedy SW. Efficacy of domperidone and sulpiride as treatments for fescue toxicosis in horses. Am J Vet Res. 1994;722–729
  16. King SS, Campbell AG, Dille EA, Roser JF, Murphy LL, Jones KL. Dopamine receptors in equine ovarian tissues. Domest Anim Endocrinol. 2005;28:405–415
  17. Breuhaus BA. Thyroid function in mature horses ingesting endophyte-infected fescue seed. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2003;223:340–345
  18. Cross DL, Redmond LM, Strickland JR. Equine fescue toxicosis: signs and solutions. J Anim Sci. 1995;73:899–908
  19. McLeay LM, Smith BL. Effects of ergotamine and ergovaline on the electromyographic activity of smooth muscle of the reticulum and rumen of sheep. Am J Vet Res. 2006;67:707–714
  20. Brendemuehl JP, Carson RL, Wenzel JGW, Boosinger TR, Shelby RA. Effects of grazing endophyte-infected tall fescue on eCG and progestogen concentrations from gestation days 21 to 300 in the mare. Theriogenology. 1996;46:85–95
  21. Thomson CH, Thompson DL, Kincaid LA, Nadal MR. Prolactin involvement with the increase in seminal volume after sexual stimulation in stallions. J Anim Sci. 1996;74:2468–2472
  22. Gallagher GR, Senger PL. Effect of phenylephrine, ergonovine, oxytocin and norepinephrine as an extender ingredient on viability of bovine spermatozoa. J Anim Sci. 1989;67:1573–1576
  23. Hawk HW, Cooper BS, Conley HH. Increased numbers of sperm in the oviducts and improved fertilization rates in rabbits after administration of phenylephrine or ergonovine near the time of insemination. J Anim Sci. 1982;55:878–890
  24. Schuenemann GM, Edwards JL, Hopkins FM, Rohrbach NR, Adair HS, Scenna FN, et al. Fertility aspects in yearling beef bulls grazing endophyte-infected tall fescue pastures. Reprod Fertil Dev. 2005;17:479–486
  25. Merrill ML, Bohnert DW, Harmon DL, Craig AM, Schrick FN. The ability of a yeast-derived cell wall preparation to minimize the toxic effects of high-ergot alkaloid tall fescue straw in beef cattle. J Anim Sci. 2007;85:2596–2605
  26. Saker KE, Allen VG, Fontenot JP, Bagley CP, Ivy RL, Evans RR, et al. Tasco-Forage: II. Monocyte immune cell response and performance of beef steers grazing tall fescue treated with a seaweed extract. J Anim Sci. 2001;79:1022–1031
  27. Christiansen DL, Hopper RM, Filipov NM, Ryan PL. Effects of dietary FEB-200(TM) in late-gestation mares grazing endophyte-infected tall fescue. Theriogenology. 2007;68:495
  28. Griffith R, Grauwiler J, Hodel C, Leist K, Matter B. Toxicological considerations. In:  Berde B,  Shild J editor. Ergot Alkaloids and Related Compounds. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology. Berlin, Germany: Springer-Verlag; 2007;p. 805–851
  29. Hill NS, Thompson FN, Stuedemann JA, Rottinghaus GW, Ju HJ, Dawe DL, et al. Ergot alkaloid transport across ruminant gastric tissues. J Anim Sci. 2001;79:542–549

 Refereed

PII: S0737-0806(08)00343-2

doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2008.10.013

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science
Volume 28, Issue 11 , Pages 666-671 , November 2008

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