Monensin poisoning in sheep

Abstract

An outbreak of monensin poisoning in a sheep flock is reported. Twelve animals died after the owner used monensin in the diet. Clinical signs included fever, anorexia, diarrhea, tachycardia, reluctance to move and ataxia. Necropsy findings were observed in one of the sheep that died and consisted of pale areas in the skeletal muscles and myocardium, cardiac hemorrhages and edema of lungs. Histologically, the pale areas in the skeletal muscles and myocardium corresponded to segmental and multi-focal hyaline degeneration and necrosis of myofibers that had lost their normal striation pattern and were deeply eosinophilic.