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Laboratory studies on the outbreak of Gangrenous Ergotism associated with consumption of contaminated barley in Arsi, Ethiopia

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dc.contributor.author Urga, Kelbessa
dc.contributor.author Debella, Asfaw
dc.contributor.author W/Medihn, Yeshi
dc.contributor.author N, Agata
dc.contributor.author Bayu, Abebe
dc.contributor.author Zewdie, Wubalem
dc.date.accessioned 2023-01-09T14:00:33Z
dc.date.available 2023-01-09T14:00:33Z
dc.date.issued 2002-03-01
dc.identifier.citation Urga, Kelbessa & Debela, Asfaw & N, Agata & Bayu, Abebe & Zewdie, Wubalem. (2002). Laboratory studies on the outbreak of Gangrenous Ergotism associated with consumption of contaminated barley in Arsi, Ethiopia. Ethiop. J. Health Dev.. 16 en_US
dc.identifier.uri http://ephispace.ephi.gov.et/xmlui/handle/123456789/528
dc.description.abstract Background: Ergotism is caused by the fungus Claviceps purpurea, which parasitizes cereal grains and is ingested by man through flour milled from contaminated cereals. An outbreak of ergotism in Ethiopia in 1978 resulted from exposure to ergot alkaloids from C. puruprea sclerotia. Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate consumption of cereal grains grown locally as the most likely cause of the outbreak of gangrenous ergotism so that control measures could be applied. Methods: During June to August, 2001, there were reports of a large number of cases of gangrene in Arsi Zone, Ethiopia. A multi-disciplinary team assessed the outbreak of the decease. Non-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with heads of households of the affected, and each of the patients was also interviewed. Grain samples were then collected from the interviewed households and analyzed for ergot alkaloids. Acute toxicity studies were also conducted by feeding male, non-pregnant and pregnant Swiss albino mice with the collected grain samples. Results: Mycological cultures of grain samples yielded ergot alkaloids. All the grain samples contained ergot alkaloids, but with varying concentration. The highest concentration of ergotamine was observed in grain samples No. 4 (2.51 mg/100 g) and No. 6 (2.66 mg/100 g). Grain samples No. 2 and 7 had similar concentration of ergotamine, but more than four-fold higher than in grain sample No. 3. In contrast, the concentration of ergometrine in grain samples No. 4 (1.15mg/100 g) and No.6 (1.21mg/100 g) were two-fold lower than ergotamine. The highest death (55%) of mice was observed in those test groups fed on grain samples No. 4 and No. 6. Cases of abortion were noted after 3 days of feeding in all pregnant mice with the exception of those allocated to grain sample No. 3. Conclusion: We conclude on the basis of these results that the outbreak of gangrene in Arsi Zone, Ethiopia, is attributed to the ingestion of barley containing ergotized wild oats en_US
dc.language.iso en en_US
dc.title Laboratory studies on the outbreak of Gangrenous Ergotism associated with consumption of contaminated barley in Arsi, Ethiopia en_US
dc.type Journal Article en_US
ep.contributor.affiliation Ethiopian Health & Nutrition Research Institute, P.O. Box 5654; 2 Office of the WHO, Representative for Ethiopia, P. O. Box 3069 en_US
ep.contributor.affiliation Oromia Health Bureau, P.O. Box 2434; 4 Medical Faulty, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 1176; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia en_US
ep.identifier.status Open Access en_US
ep.identifier.doi DOI:10.4314/ejhd.v16i3.9800 en_US
ep.journal Ethiopian Journal of Health Developmen en_US
ep.issue 3 en_US
ep.volume 16 en_US


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