Ionophore use and toxicosis in cattle

Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract. 2000 Nov;16(3):497-509, vii. doi: 10.1016/s0749-0720(15)30083-9.

Abstract

Ionophores comprise a rapidly expanding class of antibiotics produced by filamentous branching bacteria of the order Actinomycetales. The use of ionophores as coccidiostats and growth promotants has resulted in the occurrence of toxicoses in target and nontarget species. Clinical and pathologic effects of ionophore poisoning are caused by bioactivity and damage to excitable tissues such as cardiac muscle, skeletal muscle, smooth muscle, and the nervous system. Ionophore toxicoses are often related to errors in feed mixing, so the practitioner should give primary importance to the removal of suspect feeds and testing to confirm excessive exposure.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Cattle Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Cattle Diseases / diagnosis
  • Cattle Diseases / pathology
  • Cattle Diseases / therapy
  • Coccidiostats / poisoning*
  • Growth Substances / poisoning*
  • Ionophores / poisoning*

Substances

  • Coccidiostats
  • Growth Substances
  • Ionophores