Cynodon dactylon
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Authors
Botha, C.J. (Christoffel Jacobus)
Venter, Elna
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Abstract
DISTRIBUTION:
It grows in all types of soil, especially sandy soil and fertile soil.
It is found in disturbed places such as road reserves, gardens and cultivated lands.
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION: General: A short, mat-forming perennial grass, which spreads by means of slender stolons and rhizomes. It is a pioneer that will grow on bare soil and begin to rebuild the soil in disturbed places. Leaves: The leaves point upwards. Flowers: The inflorescence consists of 4 - 7 digitately arranged racemes and the spikelets are flat and without awns. September - May.
TOXIC PRINCIPLE: • One possiblity is that ergot-infected seedheads (Claviceps cynodontis) could be responsible for the kweek tremors. • Another possibility is that an endophyte may produce tremorgenic mycotoxins.
SYNDROMES: Kweek tremors, ABPE (Acute Bovine Pulmonary Oedema and Emphysema).
SYSTEMS AFFECTED: Central nervous and respiratory systems.
CLINICAL SIGNS: Kweek tremors have been observed in calves and sheep that have been grazing in pastures of predominantly Cynodon dactylon. Latent period of 1-2 days. Stimulation and exertion (exercise) often precipitate signs. All stages of nervous derangement seen from: • Hypersensitivity • Mild involuntary trembling to spastic tremors of individual muscle groups • Nodding of head, shaking of limbs or trunk • Ataxia, - stiff-legged gait, - side-ways progression, - falling and inability to get up to complete prostration (recumbency) Some cases show hypersensitivity and paddling movements like heartwater. Adopt position of sternal recumbency. • Except for outspoken cases, animals remain alert and retain their appetites. • When withdrawn from infected pastures recover rapidly over a few days. • Usually a non-fatal syndrome.
NECROPSY: • Nothing specific • For ABPE return to ABPE file
TREATMENT: • Symptomatic • Remove from infected pasture and allow recovery.
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION: General: A short, mat-forming perennial grass, which spreads by means of slender stolons and rhizomes. It is a pioneer that will grow on bare soil and begin to rebuild the soil in disturbed places. Leaves: The leaves point upwards. Flowers: The inflorescence consists of 4 - 7 digitately arranged racemes and the spikelets are flat and without awns. September - May.
TOXIC PRINCIPLE: • One possiblity is that ergot-infected seedheads (Claviceps cynodontis) could be responsible for the kweek tremors. • Another possibility is that an endophyte may produce tremorgenic mycotoxins.
SYNDROMES: Kweek tremors, ABPE (Acute Bovine Pulmonary Oedema and Emphysema).
SYSTEMS AFFECTED: Central nervous and respiratory systems.
CLINICAL SIGNS: Kweek tremors have been observed in calves and sheep that have been grazing in pastures of predominantly Cynodon dactylon. Latent period of 1-2 days. Stimulation and exertion (exercise) often precipitate signs. All stages of nervous derangement seen from: • Hypersensitivity • Mild involuntary trembling to spastic tremors of individual muscle groups • Nodding of head, shaking of limbs or trunk • Ataxia, - stiff-legged gait, - side-ways progression, - falling and inability to get up to complete prostration (recumbency) Some cases show hypersensitivity and paddling movements like heartwater. Adopt position of sternal recumbency. • Except for outspoken cases, animals remain alert and retain their appetites. • When withdrawn from infected pastures recover rapidly over a few days. • Usually a non-fatal syndrome.
NECROPSY: • Nothing specific • For ABPE return to ABPE file
TREATMENT: • Symptomatic • Remove from infected pasture and allow recovery.
Description
Colour photos. Final web-ready size: JPEG. Photo 1: 14.6 kb, 96 ppi; Photo 2: 9.1 kb, 72 ppi; Photo 3: 64.7 kb, 72 ppi; Photo 4: 13.3 kb, 96 ppi. Original TIFF file housed at the Dept. of Paraclinical Sciences, Section Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Pretoria.
Keywords
Plant poisoning, Toxicology, Plant poisoning in animals, Poisonous plants, Kweek tremors, Mycotoxins, Ergot, ABPE, Acute Bovine Pulmonary Oedema and Emphysema
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Citation
Botha, CJ & Venter, E 2002, 'Plants poisonous to livestock Southern Africa (CD-ROM)' University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Dept. of Paraclinical Sciences, Section Pharmacology and Toxicology, Pretoria, South Africa.