Ergot

 

Ergot

Ergot is dried sclerotium of the parasitic fungus claviceps purpurea that grows on cereals like wheat, rye, oat, barley and bazra etc. The spores of ergot contaminate the grains through insects or wind.  The spores then replace the grain and form dark purplish bodies larger than the original grain. 

 

Dried sclerotium of the ergot

 

Alkaloids

Amino-acid alkaloids (i) Ergo­toxine (ii) Ergotamine

Lysergic acid and amino-alkaloids (i) Lysergic acid (ii) Lysergic and diethylamide

Mechanism of action: Ergot acts on smooth muscles of intestine, uterus and arterioles and it is commonly used in obstetrics for its ecbolic action. It is also used in the treatment of migraine, as aborti­facient and in veterinary practice. Ergot derivatives directly stimulate vasoconstriction and uterine contraction, antagonize alpha-adrenergic and serotonin receptors, and may dilate some blood vessels via a CNS sympatholytic action.

Signs and Symptoms

 (i) Dryness and irritation of throat with intense thirst

(ii) Nausea and vomiting

(iii) Pain abdomen and diarrhoea

(iv) Vertigo, giddiness, and dizziness

(v) Tightness and sense of constriction in chest

(vi) Disturbance of speech and vision

(vii) Tingling of hands and feet with feeling of numbness and coldness

(viii) Muscular weak­ness and cramps in muscles

(ix) Body temperature falls with hypoglycemia and suppressed urine

(x) There may be abortion or bleeding from uterus

Ergotism (Chronic Poisoning): Ergot poisoning happens when a person or animal consumes Claviceps purpurea and its byproducts. It grows on grains such as rye and wheat, producing toxic alkaloids. Other terms for ergot poisoning include ergotoxicosis or ergotism. Those taking medicinal pre­para­tion of ergot or consumption of flour contami­nated with ergot for a long time. The patients with focal sepsis and hepatic damage are more sensitive to ergot alkaloids.

Convulsive form: (i) Tingling and itching (ii) Feeling of numbness in hands and feet and pain on walking (iii) Sensation of insects craw­ling under the skin (iv) Drowsiness and giddiness (v) Dimness of vision and fixed dilated pupil (vi) Loss of hearing and ataxia (vii) Loss of arterial pulsation and finally tonic or clonic con­vulsive sei­zures (viii) Paralysis of sensory nerves and maniac depressive psy­chosis (ix) Death results from asphyxia due to spasm of respiratory muscles.

Gangrenous form: (i) Pain in the limbs with feeling of hot and cold sensation (ii) Tingling and numbness in fingers and toes resulting from vasospasm of arterioles (iii) Swelling of limbs and feet with red patches and blisters (iv) Loss of sensation of the part followed by gangrene formation from vaso­spasm and vasoconstriction with obliteration of the lumen of small blood vessels (v) The gangrene is of dry type affecting fingers, toes and limbs that become cold to touch and dark in colour.

Autopsy findings:

 (i) Gastrointestinal tract will be congested with inflam­matory changes

(ii) All the visceral organs will be congested

(iii) Gangrene of toes and fingers is evident

(iv) Small blood ves­sels will show evidence of intimal degeneration.

Medico legal aspects:

(i) Acute ergot poisoning may result from overdose of ergot preparations to cause abortion

(ii)Use of ergot preparations for a long time can result in ergotism.      

 

 

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