Nutritionist > Equine
Claviceps although not endophytes, produce a similar array of ergot alkaloids. Claviceps live on the plant without any benefit to the host, i.e. they are saprophytes. Claviceps cause the condition known as Ergotism which is historically the oldest known mycotoxicosis. Claviceps live on a variety of pasture grasses and hay including ryegrass and bluegrass and commonly produce ergotamine, ergostine, ergocristine, ergocryptine and ergocornine.
There have been clinical cases cited involving ergot alkaloids by Claviceps. In Brazil late gestation mares were fed oats containing ryegrass seed and suffered from foetal loss similar to those found with fescue toxicity. The ryegrass seed was the only source of ergot alkaloids. In another case pregnant mares were bedded on rye straw bedding and consumed the bedding. Of the first eight mares to foal, seven foaled dead foals. Investigation resulted in analysis of the bedding, which indicated the presence of two ergot alkaloids (one of which was ergocornine) at levels of 450ppb.
