Neurological syndrome in goats associated with Ipomoea trifida and Ipomoea carnea containing calystegines

Abstract A disease characterized by ataxia, tremors and nystagmus had been observed in goats in Nicaragua. The main histologic lesions were loss and neuronal vacuolation of Purkinje cells and Wallerian-like degeneration mainly in the cerebellum, suggesting a glycoprotein storage disease. Ipomoea carnea and Ipomoea trifida found in the paddocks were negative for swainsonine, but contained calystegines at 0.02% and 0.06% suggesting that the disease was caused by these substances, which are competitive inhibitors of β-glucosidase and α-galactosidase activities.