Abstract
Diplodiosis is an important neuromycotoxicosis of ruminants in South Africa when grazing on harvested maize fields in winter. It is believed to be caused by mycotoxin(s) synthesised by Stenocarpella (Diplodia) maydis. Although several metabolites have been isolated from S. maydis culture material, none of these have been administered to ruminants to reproduce the disease. The objectives of this study were to isolate diplodiatoxin and to administer it to juvenile goats. Diplodiatoxin, considered as a major metabolite, was purified from S. maydis-infected maize cultures (Coligny 2007 isolate). Following intravenous administration of 2 mg and 4 mg diplodiatoxin/kg body weight for five consecutive days to two juvenile goats, no clinical signs reminiscent of diplodiosis were observed. Based on previous experimental results and if diplodiatoxin was the causative compound, the dosage regimen employed was seemingly appropriate to induce diplodiosis. In addition, intraruminal administration of 2 mg/kg diplodiatoxin to one goat for three consecutive days also did not induce clinical signs. It appears as if diplodiatoxin alone is not the causative compound. Other metabolites and/or mixtures of diplodiatoxin and other mycotoxins, when available in sufficient quantities, should also be evaluated.
Highlights
Stenocarpella (Diplodia) maydis (Berk.) Sutton is one of the most prevalent cob and stalk rot pathogens of maize responsible for a decline in grain quality and yield (Flett & McLaren 1994)
Stenocarpella maydis-infected maize is associated with intoxication in ruminants, resulting in the neuromycotoxicosis known as diplodiosis (Kellerman et al 2005)
Diplodiosis is an important toxicosis in South Africa because of the fact that many farmers utilise harvested maize fields, locally called stover, as an important winter food source (Kellerman et al 2005)
Summary
Stenocarpella (Diplodia) maydis (Berk.) Sutton is one of the most prevalent cob and stalk rot pathogens of maize responsible for a decline in grain quality and yield (Flett & McLaren 1994). Stenocarpella maydis-infected maize is associated with intoxication in ruminants, resulting in the neuromycotoxicosis known as diplodiosis (Kellerman et al 2005). Diplodiosis is an important toxicosis in South Africa because of the fact that many farmers utilise harvested maize fields, locally called stover, as an important winter food source (Kellerman et al 2005). The first record of diplodiosis in South Africa is reported by Van der Bijl (1914) who cites Government Veterinary Surgeon Webb who submitted maize cobs in August 1912 from Mooi River, KwaZulu-Natal province. Mr Webb wrote (Van der Bijl 1914):. Mitchell (1919) reproduced diplodiosis in cattle by feeding naturally infected maize cobs as well as a S. maydis culture grown on sterile maize kernels. Diplodiosis has been recorded in Argentina (Odriozola et al 2005), Australia (Darvall 1964) and Brazil (Riet-Correa et al 2013)
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