| Popis: |
This chapter focuses on ergot alkaloids which have caused significant losses in both grazing and grain-fed animals in Australia. The ergot toxins, the effects of which in general result from their actions as partial agonists or antagonists at adrenergic, dopaminergic and serotogenic receptors, are produced by members of the fungal family Claviciptaceae, including species of the genus Claviceps and the endophyte genus Neotyphodium. The major Claviceps species causing animal disease in Australia include Claviceps paspali which produce the tremorgenic mycotoxin paspalitrem, C. purpurea which produces ergotamine alkaloid, and C. africana which produces dihydroergosine. Neotyphodium lolii produces the tremorgenic mycotoxin lolitrem B and various ergot alkaloids including ergovaline. The article reports outbreaks of the diseases in Australia and its impact on the animal industry. |
