Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Annual ryegrass toxicity in Thoroughbred horses in Ceres in the Western Cape Province, South Africa.
- Journal:
- Journal of the South African Veterinary Association
- Year:
- 2009
- Authors:
- Grewar, J D et al.
- Affiliation:
- Faculty of Veterinary Science
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
There was an outbreak of annual ryegrass toxicity, which is a serious condition caused by a type of grass, affecting Thoroughbred horses at a stud in Ceres, South Africa. This is the first time this issue has been reported in horses in the country, although it has been seen in cattle and sheep before. Horses with this toxicity can show various neurological symptoms, such as shaking, seizures, and extreme weakness, and it can even lead to death. The report details the history of the outbreak, the symptoms the horses displayed, and the treatment that was given. Unfortunately, the outcome of the treatment is not specified in the abstract.
Abstract
An outbreak of annual ryegrass toxicity occurred on a Thoroughbred stud in Ceres in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. This is the 1st report of annual ryegrass toxicity in horses in South Africa, although the condition has been reported in cattle and sheep populations in the past. Annual ryegrass toxicity is characterised by a variety of neurological signs including tremors, convulsions, recumbency and in many cases death. The description of the outbreak includes the history, clinical presentation and treatment protocol administered during the outbreak. Various epidemiological variables and their influence in the outbreak are also considered.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20458861/