Special Veterinary Pathology

DALLIES GRASS POISONING

In United States, a fungus Claviceps paspli grows upon Dallis grass, a pasture plant

• It produces what is known as “Dallis grass poisoning” in cattle, sheep and horses
• This ergot (sclerotium) is much smaller than that of Claviceps purpurea and usually of a brownish colour
• Clinical signs of Dallis grass poisoning are mainly nervous in character and include nervous hyperirritability, excitability and muscular incoordination
• Many animals recover with a change in feed
• Gross lesions are few and microscopic studies do not appear to have been carried out