Kellerman T S, Rabie C J, van der Westhuizen G C, Kriek N P, Prozesky L
Onderstepoort J Vet Res. 1985 Mar;52(1):35-42.
Diplodiosis, a neuromycotoxicosis, principally of cattle, which is characterized by ataxia, paresis and paralysis, was induced in 13 cattle, 16 sheep and 3 goats, by dosing them with Diplodia maydis [= D. zeae (Schw.) Lév.] cultured on sterilized maize seeds. The results of these experiments confirmed the findings of earlier workers that diplodiosis is a mycotoxicosis caused by D. maydis. The intoxication was induced with cultures of South African isolates of D. maydis obtained from local maize, one of which was associated with a suspected field outbreak, and with cultures of isolates from maize imported from the United States of America and Argentina. Other findings emerging from the experiments were, inter alia, that cultures incubated for less than 8 weeks were seemingly non-toxic, that there was little individual variation in response of cattle to cultures of the different toxic isolates or batches of the isolates, that apparent relapses of clinical signs can occur several weeks after dosing had ceased and that a small percentage of animals can show permanent locomotory disturbance. Light microscopical examination revealed no lesions in acutely affected animals, but an extensive laminar subcortical status spongiosis was evident in the cerebrum and cerebellum of a sheep that had been long paralysed and a steer that had permanent locomotory disturbance.
双孢霉中毒是一种主要发生于牛的神经霉菌毒素中毒症，其特征为共济失调、轻瘫和瘫痪。通过给13头牛、16只绵羊和3只山羊投喂在灭菌玉米种子上培养的玉米双孢霉[=玉蜀黍双孢霉（施瓦茨）莱维]，诱发了这种疾病。这些实验结果证实了早期研究人员的发现，即双孢霉中毒是由玉米双孢霉引起的霉菌毒素中毒症。用从当地玉米中分离得到的南非玉米双孢霉菌株培养物诱发中毒，其中一个菌株与一次疑似田间疫情有关，还用从美国和阿根廷进口的玉米中分离得到的菌株培养物诱发中毒。这些实验的其他发现包括，培养时间少于8周的培养物似乎无毒，牛对不同有毒菌株或菌株批次的培养物的反应个体差异很小，给药停止数周后临床症状可能会明显复发，并且一小部分动物会出现永久性运动障碍。光学显微镜检查显示，急性中毒动物没有病变，但在一只长期瘫痪的绵羊和一头有永久性运动障碍的公牛的大脑和小脑中，明显可见广泛的皮质下板层海绵样变。
