Sorghum and Sudan Grass Toxicosis

Sorghum and Sudan Grass Toxicosis



Basic Information image



Definition


Sorghum grasses have been selected as drought-tolerant forage or grain crops. Although the grain sorghums (“milo”) rarely present a toxicity problem, the forage sorghums can accumulate toxic levels of cyanogenic glycosides and nitrates. These two toxins are primarily a problem to ruminant species and rarely to horses. However, the chronic ingestion of sorghum pastures or hay made from sorghum and its hybrids has been associated with a neuropathy in horses, cattle, and sheep that is not related to the cyanogenic glycoside content responsible for acute cyanide poisoning.



Synonym(s)


Common names for varieties of sorghum in the United States include Sudan grass, Sudax, sorgo, kafir, durra, milo, shallu, kaoliang, broomcorn, and Johnson grass.



Epidemiology



Risk Factors


Continuous consumption of sorghum hay or forage over a period of weeks or months



Geography and Seasonality




• Sorghums are warm-season, coarse, annual grasses ranging in height from 2 to 6 feet. Introduced from Africa, sorghums have become well established in North America, with some being useful grain and forage species (Sorghum bicolor); others such as Johnson grass (Sorghum halapense) are noxious weeds.


• Sudan grass, formerly Sorghum sudanense, is now a species of S. bicolor (Figure 1).


• Some sorghum hybrids have been selected for their low cyanogenic glycoside content.


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FIGURE 1 Sudan grass hybrid (Sorghum bicolor).



Clinical Presentation



Disease Forms/Subtypes


Sorghum poisoning in horses has a slow onset (1–6 months) and is a chronic disease.



History, Chief Complaint




• Ataxia, dribbling urine, soiled hind legs, tail and perineum, weight loss


• Abortion in some pregnant mares


• Arthrogryposis in some foals



Physical Exam Findings




• Weakness and ataxia of the hindquarters. In severe cases, the horse collapses when backed.


• Urinary incontinence may lead to urine scalding of the perineum and hind legs. Hematuria and a thickened, atonic urinary bladder can be palpated rectally.


• Tail flaccidity, dilatation of the rectum, and abnormal accumulation of feces occur because of an atonic rectum.


• Some foals may be born weak or have arthrogryposis in all legs.

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Jul 24, 2016 | Posted by in SMALL ANIMAL | Comments Off on Sorghum and Sudan Grass Toxicosis

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