Botha, C.J. (Christoffel Jacobus)Venter, ElnaUniversity of Pretoria. Faculty of Veterinary Science. Dept. of Paraclinical Sciences. Section Pharmacology and Toxicology2008-12-222008-12-222002Botha, 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.http://hdl.handle.net/2263/8533Colour photos. Final web-ready size: JPEG. Photo 1: 8.76 kb, 96 ppi; Photo 2: 35.3 kb, 96 ppi; Photo 3: 12.4 kb, 96 ppi; Photo 4: 7.66 kb, 72 ppi; Photo 5: 98.3 kb, 96 ppi. Original TIFF file housed at the Dept. of Paraclinical Sciences, Section Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Pretoria.DISTRIBUTION: • It grows mostly in clay and loam soil in moist places. • Often a weed in gardens, cultivated lands and on roadsides.BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION: General: An erect or bent perennial tufted grass with short rhizomes. Grows up to 1,5 m high. Leaves: Leaf blades are flat. Rachis flat with the midrib raised on one side. Flowers: Inflorescence loose and flexible with 4 - 5 one-sided racemes. It has tufts of white hairs where the racemes join the central axis. November - February. Toxic principle: Dallis grass is susceptible to Claviceps paspali infestation; a dark coloured poisonous fungus that thrives on the spikelets and form hard, brownish bodies known as sclerotia or ergots.SYSTEMS AFFECTED: Central nervous system.CLINICAL SIGNS: • The staggers syndrome occurs predominantly in cattle. • Clinical signs usually appear 2 to 7 days after grazing on infected grass and include: - hypersensitivity, - tremors and - incoordination, which become more pronounced with exercise. • Severely affected animals may become recumbent and show typical heartwater-like paddling. • Appetite remains good and animals almost invariably recover after being removed from toxic pastures.NECROPSY: No pathological changes have been described.TREATMENT: Remove from infected pasture and allow to recover.©University of Pretoria. Dept. of Paraclinical Sciences, Section Pharmacology and Toxicology (Original and digital). Provided for educational purposes only. It may not be downloaded, reproduced or distributed in any format without written permission of the original copyright holder. Any attempt to circumvent the access controls placed on this file is a violation of copyright laws and is subject to criminal prosecution. Please contact the collection administrator for copyright issues.Plant poisoningToxicologyPlant poisoning in animalsPoisonous plantsSclerotiaErgotsPoisonous plants -- Toxicology -- Africa, SouthernVeterinary toxicologyStill Image