[2022/03/26, 18:20:14] Louis Greeff: Evening everyone. A strange case in a domestic boerbok flock on a well managed farm. They get lucerne and 400g lucerne cubes per day, and ad lib lucerne at night. During the day, they are in a camp with mostly steekgras, but also 2 weeds (see below) which they dont eat. Over the last 10 days, there were 8 affected ewes, of which 3 died acutely with convulsions. The rest have recovered, but abort 3-4 days later. On clinical examination the temperature is 38,6 C, and a severe bradycardia (55 b/minute). Any ideas appreciated. No PMs done on the 3 that died. [2022/03/26, 19:05:05 Shaun Beverley: Louis, can this not be a hypomagnesaemia caused by the high calcium in the lucerne? [2022/03/26, 19:05:27] [2022/03/26, 19:25:41] Louis Greeff: This is the same ewe an hour later. [2022/03/26, 19:28:03] Douw Grobler: Did you treat that ewe with anything Louis? [2022/03/26, 19:59:07] Johan Steyl: Consider prussic acid poisoning. Many wilted weeds contain high levels of cyanogenic glycosides. Abortion can follow after recovery. Rx response to hypo (Na-thiosulphate) can be diagnostic. [2022/03/26, 20:22:28] Liam Theuns Smit: Don't discard the possibility of cyanogenic grasses. 2022/03/26, 20:24:57] Douw Grobler: Hi Willem Burger. Louis' case - does it not remind you of the hypomagnesaemia you diagnosed in the elephants 🤔 [2022/03/26, 20:26:33] Ryan Jeffery: Wouldn't prussic acid poisoning cause tachycardia and respiratory issues? [2022/03/26, 20:54:03] Johan Kriek: Selenium deficiency with lucerne having been treated with molybdenum??? [2022/03/26, 20:56:03] Johan Kriek I saw Se deficiency in sable which had similar symptoms [2022/03/26, 21:02:11] Ben Potgieter: This looks very much like the cases of magnesium deficiency that I see regularly in cattle. [2022/03/26, 21:03:11] Ben Potgieter: does anyone still have the photos of sable with Cu deficiency? [2022/03/26, 21:57:17] JW Eksteen: Louis. I would withdraw that batch of mealies from the ration immediately, and stop feeding it until you receive an answer from a mycotoxins test. Then compare the serum values of Ca, Mg and P of healthy and sick ewes. Treat with MgSO4, Hypo, charcoal, B1 individually and note response. Perform a PM on the next ewe that dies and send samples away for analysis. I think any severe long-term muscle contractions can induce stress and a cortisol cascade, and induce abortion in heavily pregnant ewes. [2022/03/26, 21:58:08] Louis Greeff: Thanks JW [2022/03/27, 08:10:05] Henry Labuschagne: Agree with JW. Also check blood glucose and ketones to rule out ketosis
