Experimental poisoning by narasin was induced in 13 sheep through oral administration of the drug. Six sheep died, three were killed in extremis and four recovered. The onset of clinical signs was 2 hours to 7 days after the administration of the drug, and the clinical course lasted from 7 hours to 14 days. Initially there were laborious breathing, tachypnea, fever and ruminal atony. These signs were followed by incoordinated gait, stiffness, reluctance to move and changes in frequency and intensity of cardiac sounds. Grunting, grinding of teeth, myoglobinuria, and sternal and lateral recumbency were also observed. One sheep had sudden death. Necropsy findings were observed in seven of the sheep that died and consisted of pale areas in the skeletal muscles and myocardium. More frequently affected muscles were masseter, semitendinosus, sternocephalicus, brachiocephalicus, extrinsec muscles of the tongue, pectoral, supraspinatus and teres major. Hydropericardium, edema of the lungs and the wall of the gall bladder were also observed. Ocasionally the cut surface of the lymph nodes was reddened and moist. In one sheep there was edema surrounding the esophagus and within the cervical muscles; in another one there was a bolus of partially chewed food in the oral cavity. Histologically, the pale areas in the skeletal muscles and myocardium corresponded to multifocal or focal extensive degeneration and necrosis of myofibers; these lesions were sometimes associated with processes of regeneration in skeletal muscles and reparation in the myocardium. The histological muscle lesions were more pronounced in the tongue and muscles of the limbs.
Narasin; ionophore antibiotics; sheep; pathology; toxicosis
