Distribution and Accumulation of the Mycotoxin Lolitrem B in Neotyphodium lolii- Infected Perennial Ryegrass

1997 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 1435-1449 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. J.-P. Ball ◽  
G. M. Barker ◽  
R. A. Prestidge ◽  
J. M. Sprosen
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Neotyphodium Lolii ◽  
Lolitrem B

scholarly journals Determination of the toxic threshold of lolitrem B in cattle eating endophye-infected perennial ryegrass

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 399-402
Author(s):  
L. Blythe ◽  
C. Estill ◽  
J. Males ◽  
A.M. Craig
Keyword(s):  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Positive Control ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Crossbred Cattle ◽  
Testing Laboratory ◽  
Neotyphodium Lolii ◽  
Lolitrem B

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) straw is used as a feed for livestock and horses. Some straw is infected with the endophyte, Neotyphodium lolii, which produces lolitrem tremorgens. Ingesting of the toxin produces clinical "ryegrass staggers." A 28 day feeding trail was conducted using 61 Black Angus, pure and crossbred cattle. The cattle were fed one of three levels of lolitrem B in chopped perennial ryegrass straw ranging from 0 ppb up to 3058 ppb. Four Japanese Wagyu crossbred cattle were fed chopped ryegrass straw containing 1400 ppb lolitrem B. The cattle were evaluated and scored twice a day for clinical signs of gait difficulties. Cattle consuming 1400 ppb lolitrem B did not show any overt clinical signs. After 14 days, 7 out of 15 cattle in the 1954 ppb lolitrem B group showed clinical signs of ataxia, stiffness, and tremors as seen in ryegrass staggers. All of the cattle in the positive control group of up to 3058 ppb lolitrem B with a 4 week mean of 2574 ppb developed clinical signs of staggers. None of the Wagyu cattle at 1400 ppb lolitrem B developed clinical signs. A dose response curve was developed based on the results of this study coupled with a prior study for use in the testing laboratory. Keywords: lolitrem B, perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne, endophyte fungus, Neotyphodium lolii, cattle, threshold levels

scholarly journals Progress in breeding sheep for resistance to ryegrass staggers

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 431-431
Author(s):  
C.A. Morris ◽  
N.C. Amyes
Keyword(s):  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Metabolic Disorder ◽  
Scoring System ◽  
Neotyphodium Lolii ◽  
High Heritability ◽  
Lolitrem B ◽  
Clinical Cases

Ryegrass Staggers (RGS) is predominantly a summer/autumn metabolic disorder of ruminants, caused by ingestion of the toxin lolitrem B. The toxin is produced by an endophyte (Neotyphodium lolii) found in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne). In clinical cases of RGS, animals experience neuromuscular uncoordination when under stress, e.g. when mustered by sheep dogs. Experiments with a standardised RGS scoring system show that resistance/susceptibility in sheep has a moderate/high heritability (0.37 ± 0.05). An AgResearch flock was established in 1993, with two lines bred for resistance (R) or susceptibility (S) to RGS. Annually, lambs are scored for susceptibility, when both lines graze together on high endophyte pastures, and are mustered by sheep dogs. In 2005 and 2006, 2% and 6.5% of R-line lambs, respectively, showed clinical staggers, compared with 94% and 91% of S-line lambs (P

Weather and pasture characteristics associated with outbreaks of perennial ryegrass toxicosis in southern Australia

2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (8) ◽  
pp. 738 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. F. M. Reed ◽  
Z. N. Nie ◽  
L. V. Walker ◽  
W. J. Mace ◽  
S. G. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
High Growth ◽  
High Growth Rate ◽  
Infection Frequency ◽  
Neotyphodium Lolii ◽  
Whole Plant ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
Summer Pasture ◽  
Lolitrem B ◽  
Mycelial Mass

Severe outbreaks of toxicosis caused by the natural endophyte Neotyphodium lolii in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) have occasionally resulted in heavy loss of livestock in Victoria and Tasmania. Meteorological records were examined from locations where acute toxicosis was recorded. High rainfall (>350 mm) in spring–summer was an obvious common feature; typically, it prolonged the period of high growth rate of pasture, increasing predicted spring–summer (September–March) growth (by ~36%) and increasing the predicted digestibility of organic matter of summer pasture (1 February) by 2.7% units (up to 55.6%). In years when severe toxicosis occurred, such rainfall was accompanied by dry, warm conditions in March and April, viz. mean maximum daily temperatures on the mainland of ≥21°C (March) and ≥18°C (April). During summer–autumn 2002, pastures from 10 Victorian farms on which acute perennial ryegrass toxicosis resulted in the loss of >7000 sheep/deer, were found to be dominated by perennial ryegrass. The ryegrass endophyte-produced toxins, ergovaline and lolitrem B, were detected in 74% and 100%, respectively, of composite faecal samples collected from acutely affected animals. The populations of perennial ryegrass all tested positive for Neotyphodium lolii endophyte, with a mean infection frequency of 90.5% (s.e.m. 1.81). The mean mycelial mass in basal tillers of perennial ryegrass was estimated at 66.00 (s.e.m. 3.40) from a sample of 20 plants, each of which was assessed on a scale of 1–5. Mycelial mass accounted for 19–20% of the variation in the concentration of ergovaline and lolitrem B in perennial ryegrass. Toxin concentrations in the plants where acute toxicosis was observed exceeded the tolerance levels for sheep (ergovaline 0.8 mg/kg; lolitrem B 1.8 mg/kg) in the minor (green) fraction of the plant in all but one affected pasture for ergovaline and all but two for lolitrem B. Maximum concentrations recorded were 4.3 and 4.6 mg/kg for ergovaline and lolitrem B respectively. Ergovaline increased in an asymptotic relationship with lolitrem B, which accounted for 45% of the variation in ergovaline. The concentrations of ergovaline and lolitrem B in the whole plant (green and dead fractions combined) were not greater than those recorded from randomly sampled pastures in earlier seasons, when only occasional mild cases of toxicosis were reported. Further examination of stored grass samples collected during the 2002 outbreak recently revealed unidentified peaks on the chromatograms for both ergovaline and lolitrem B; peaks that are not seen on chromatograms for toxic perennial ryegrass from New Zealand, where the expression of perennial ryegrass toxicosis is usually milder and rarely fatal.

scholarly journals Performance of lambs and the incidence of staggers and heat stress on two perennial ryegrass cultivars over three summers in the Manawatu

1999 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 143-150
Author(s):  
S.J. Bluett ◽  
J. Hodgson ◽  
P.D. Kemp ◽  
T.N. Barry
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Heat Stress ◽  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Stress Symptoms ◽  
Neotyphodium Lolii ◽  
Lolitrem B ◽  
Organic Matter Digestibility ◽  
Lamb Growth

Three lamb growth experiments were carried out at Massey University, Palmerston North, from 1995 to 1998 to evaluate the nutritive value and endophyte (Neotyphodium lolii) status of a new perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) cultivar (Aries HD). Aries HD was specifically selected for improved organic matter digestibility over summer and early autumn. Lamb liveweight gain on 'Aries HD' compared to a control cultivar 'Yatsyn 1' perennial ryegrass was higher in the summer of 1995/96 (104 vs 84 ± 4.6 g/day, P=0.1028), similar in two consecutive summers, 1996/97 (116 vs 111 ± 5.1 g/day, P=0.6542), and 1997/98 (71 vs 73 g/day ± 10.6 g/day, P=0.7350). The nutritive value (invitro organic matter digestibility, neutral detergent fibre and nitrogen content) of Aries HD and Yatsyn 1 pastures was similar. Lambs grazing Yatsyn 1 were more severely affected by ryegrass staggers than lambs grazing Aries HD, although the concentrations of lolitrem B in grazed herbage were similar. The concentration of ergovaline in Aries HD in association with endophyte was about half that in Yatsyn 1 in association with endophyte. Ergovaline may have acted synergistically to increase the toxicity of lolitrem B and the severity of staggers in lambs grazing Yatsyn 1 pastures. There was some indication that heat stress symptoms were more severe in lambs forced to graze lower into the sward. The effect of management and alkaloid concentration is likely to have a larger impact on lamb performance than small differences in nutritive value between cultivars of highendophyte perennial ryegrass. Keywords: alkaloids, animal performance, Aries HD, endophyte, heat stress, Lolium perenne, Neotyphodium lolii, perennial ryegrass, ryegrass staggers, Yatsyn 1

Ryegrass endophyte (Neotyphodium lolii) alkaloids and mineral concentrations in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) from southwest Victorian pasture

2004 ◽  
Vol 44 (12) ◽  
pp. 1185 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. F. M. Reed ◽  
J. R. Walsh ◽  
P. A. Cross ◽  
N. M. McFarlane ◽  
M. A. Sprague
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Neotyphodium Lolii ◽  
Livestock Farmers ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Lolitrem B ◽  
Clinically Significant ◽  
Autumn And Winter ◽  
Mineral Concentrations ◽  
Mean Concentration

On all of 120 farms in south-west Victoria that were selected at random and sampled during autumn and winter over 2 years, perennial ryegrass was present in the pasture and tested positive for the presence of the naturally occurring ryegrass endophyte, Neotyphodium lolii (mean frequency 78%). Ryegrass staggers were reported on 33% (1999) and 43% (2000) of the surveyed farms. Clinically significant concentrations of lolitrem B were detected in perennial ryegrass samples with concentrations in the range 0–4.44 mg/kg. Concentration exceeded 1.8 mg/kg in 37% of pastures indicating an inherent, widespread problem for livestock farmers. Concentration was independent of endophyte frequency, pasture age, pasture height, annual rainfall and origin of sown cultivar. Ergovaline was detected in most of the perennial ryegrass samples with concentrations up to 3.90 mg/kg. In 1999, the mean concentration of ergovaline was 0.76 (± 0.70) mg/kg with 33% of pastures having a level >0.4 mg/kg, the level associated with heat stress in cattle. In 2000, sampling was carried out later in the year than for the 1999 survey and the mean concentration of ergovaline was 0.12 (± 0.10) mg/kg; 3% of samples exceeded 0.4 mg/kg. The mean concentration of peramine was 13.7 (± 6.6) mg/kg in the 1999 survey and 4.2 (± 5.1) mg/kg in the 2000 survey. Mineral analysis indicated that perennial ryegrass nutrition was inadequate with regard to phosphorous on 17% of the dairy pastures and on 37% of the sheep/beef pastures. Potassium was deficient in perennial ryegrass on 5 and 37% of dairy and sheep/beef pastures respectively. For perennial ryegrass in sheep/beef pastures, 25% were deficient in sulphur. For lactating cattle having only perennial ryegrass as a food source, phosphorous and copper concentrations in the grass were inadequate on 80% of the pastures. Calcium, zinc, magnesium, potassium and sulphur concentrations in perennial ryegrass were also inadequate on some pastures. However, with 1 exception, the ratio [K/(Ca+Mg) expressed as equivalents] was less than 2.2, the level associated with the development of hypomagnesemia. Hypomagnesemia (grass tetany) was therefore unlikely to be a major cause of the staggers syndrome. Lolitrem B was negatively correlated with grass potassium concentration (P<0.001). Ergovaline was negatively correlated with date of sampling (P<0.001). Peramine concentration was positively correlated with endophyte frequency, the potassium and sodium concentrations in perennial ryegrass and negatively correlated with date of sampling. The need for research on the economic impact and management of pasture contaminated with ryegrass endophyte toxins is discussed.

Fluctuations in the concentration of ergovaline and lolitrem B produced by the wild-type endophyte (Neotyphodium lolii) in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) pasture

2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (12) ◽  
pp. 1098 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. F. M. Reed ◽  
Z. N. Nie ◽  
L. V. Walker ◽  
G. Kearney
Keyword(s):  
Seed Development ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Daily Maximum Temperature ◽  
Daily Maximum ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Neotyphodium Lolii ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Lolitrem B

Mammalian toxins produced by the wild-type endophyte, Neotyphodium lolii, in perennial ryegrass (PRG) pasture cause production losses and animal health and welfare problems in livestock. Managing this risk is limited by the lack of information on fluctuations in the concentration of toxin in Australian pasture. We investigated how the toxin concentrations may be related to recent observations of weather. Swards sown from common seedlots of two cultivars of wild endophyte-infected PRG, grazed short by sheep, were sampled at 2–4 weekly intervals from spring to autumn at two sites in Victoria. The highest concentration of ergovaline and lolitrem B was observed at Hamilton, the site with the longer-growing season. The concentration of ergovaline peaked in early summer, coinciding with seed development, and declined through summer, before increasing with the commencement of autumn growth. The concentration of lolitrem B remained low in summer, then rose in autumn. Variation between the two cultivars in the concentration of toxins was small and rarely significant. The concentration of ergovaline declined as the mean daily maximum temperature over the preceding 1–5 days increased. Similarly, for lolitrem B, the concentration declined over the temperature range 12−20°C, from 1.3 to 0.3 mg/kg. At Hamilton, where solar radiation and soil temperature were recorded, both were superior to maximum temperature for predicting lolitrem B. Serial sampling of PRG from old naturalised pasture on seven farms across south-eastern Australia found two seasonal peaks for both alkaloids in most pastures. The concentration of ergovaline reached or exceeded tolerance levels for livestock in 23 of 43 samples, compared with 5 of 43 for lolitrem B. Ergovaline concentrations initially peaked (at 1.0–1.6 mg/kg) when mature reproductive material was present (coinciding with peduncle elongation and seed development). In pastures with low grazing pressure, i.e. where growth was allowed to continue through summer, ergovaline concentration was relatively low (<0.7 mg/kg) but in a hard-grazed pasture (sward height 3 cm), the ergovaline concentration was greater (up to 1.1 mg/kg). Concentration of lolitrem B also peaked in December, except on pasture where growth continued through summer. High concentrations of lolitrem B associated with neurotoxic signs in sheep (viz. 2.4–3.9 mg/kg) were observed only in mid-summer and autumn, and only if conditions favoured growth or where close grazing by sheep left the crown as the dominant source of herbage.

Incidence of ryegrass endophyte (Neotyphodium lolii) and diversity of associated alkaloid concentrations among naturalised populations of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

2000 ◽  
Vol 51 (5) ◽  
pp. 569 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. F. M. Reed ◽  
A. Leonforte ◽  
P. J. Cunningham ◽  
J. R. Walsh ◽  
D. I. Allen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Critical Level ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Lolium Perenne L ◽  
Grass Endophyte ◽  
Neotyphodium Lolii ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Lolitrem B ◽  
Mutualistic Association

The mutualistic association between perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and the ryegrass endophyte Neotyphodium lolii (Latch, Christensen and Samuels) Glenn, Bacon and Hanlin, previously assigned to the genus Acremonium, is known to have a major impact on pasture and animal production. The perennial ryegrass ecotypes Victorian and Kangaroo Valley are the most widely sown varieties of grass in Australian pasture. The incidence of ryegrass endophyte (N. lolii) in these ecotypes, and the production of alkaloids associated with theryegrass endophyte, are largely unexplored. Fifty-six populations of Victorian and 45 of Kangaroo Valley were sampled from old pasture within the recognised zones of naturalisation of both ecotypes. All of the 101 populations examined were infected with ryegrass endophyte. The mean ryegrass endophyte (N. lolii) frequency for plants within the populations of the Victorian and Kangaroo Valley ecotypes was 88% and 93%, respectively. Alkaloid concentrations were determined from infected plants for 39 Kangaroo Valley populations and, in a separate study, for 24 Victorian populations. Ergovaline concentration was above the critical level of 0.4 mg/kg (above which clinical symptoms are observed) for 10% of the Kangaroo Valley populations and 17% of the Victorian populations. For lolitrem B, all Victorian populations were below the critical level of 1.8 mg/kg, but 28% of the Kangaroo Valley populations had mean concentrations above the critical level, 1.8 mg/kg. Concentrations for individual plants were <5 mg/kg for ergovaline, <6 mg/kg for lolitrem B, and <48 mg/kg for peramine. Within each ecotype examined, significant variation (P < 0.05) in the mean concentrations of ergovaline, lolitrem B, and peramine was found between the populations of naturalised perennial ryegrass. Mean concentrations for some of the various naturalised populations were higher than that observed in some of the control cultivars. Low ergovaline and lolitrem B concentrations observed for individual genotypes indicate scope for selecting grass endophyte combinations characterised by optimum production of alkaloids.

scholarly journals "Non-toxic" endophytes in ryegrass and their effect on livestock health and production

1999 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 133-139
Author(s):  
L.R. Fletcher
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
The Other ◽  
Serum Prolactin ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Respiration Rates ◽  
Neotyphodium Lolii ◽  
Lolitrem B ◽  
Livestock Health ◽  
Gross Margins

Ryegrass/endophyte associations have been developed which produce peramine, but not the endophyte toxins ergovaline or lolitrem B. Sheep grazing these ryegrasses in small paddocks and in a systems trial over three years gained weight as rapidly as those grazing endophyte-free ryegrass, and showed none of the adverse responses associated with grazing ryegrass naturally infected with wild-type endophyte (Neotyphodium lolii). Growth rates, rectal temperatures, respiration rates, serum prolactin concentrations, ryegrass staggers scores and scores for dag burdens were equivalent for the selected endophyte and nil endophyte treatments, whereas sheep grazing the wild-type endophyte treatment were adversely affected for all parameters. This was reflected in calculated gross margins for the systems trial of only $605 per hectare for the wild-type endophyte treatment compared with over $700 per hectare for each of the other treatments. To date there have been no conclusive studies of non-toxic endophyte with cattle. Keywords: AR1, dags, endophyte, ergovaline, liveweight gain, lolitrem B, Lolium perenne, Neotyphodium, peramine, perennial ryegrass, prolactin, sheep

The impact of endophyte on the health and productivity of sheep grazing ryegrass-based pastures

1999 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 11-17
Author(s):  
L.R. Fletcher ◽  
B.L. Sutherland ◽  
C.G. Fletcher
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Plasma Prolactin ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Lower Plasma ◽  
Lower Growth ◽  
Respiration Rates ◽  
Neotyphodium Lolii ◽  
The Impact

The health and production of sheep grazing perennial ryegrass with and without wild-type endophyte (Neotyphodium lolii) has been studied in several trials over a number of years. Lambs/ hoggets grazing predominantly perennial ryegrass swards with endophyte developed moderate to severe ryegrass staggers in summer and autumn, while those grazing endophyte-free ryegrass did not. Lambs/hoggets grazing ryegrass with endophyte also had more dags, lower growth rates, lower plasma prolactin levels, higher body temperatures and respiration rates under warm humid conditions. Most of these adverse responses were more severe in summer and autumn when endophyte toxin concentrations were highest. Many of these symptoms are similar to those described for the "autumn ill thrift" syndrome in New Zealand. Keywords: dags, endophyte, flystrike, growth rates, hyperthermia, Neotyphodium, perennial ryegrass, prolactin, ryegrass staggers, sheep

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