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Endogenous toxins and mycotoxins in forage grasses and their effects on livestock.
Abstract: Plant toxins are the chemical defenses of plants against herbivory. Grasses have relatively few intrinsic toxins, relying more on growth habit to survive defoliation and endophytic fungal toxins as chemical defenses. Forage grasses that contain intrinsic toxins include Phalaris spp. (tryptamine and carboline alkaloids), sorghums (cyanogenic glycosides), and tropical grasses containing oxalates and saponins. Toxic effects of these grasses include neurological damage (Phalaris staggers), hypoxia (sudangrass), saponin-induced photosensitization (Brachiaria and Panicum spp.), and bone demineralization (oxalate-containing grasses). Endophytic toxins in grasses include ergot alkaloids in tall fescue and tremorgens (e.g., lolitrem B) in perennial ryegrass. Lolitrems cause neurological effects, producing the ryegrass staggers syndrome. Annual ryegrass toxicosis is caused by corynetoxins, which are chemically similar to tunicamycin antibiotics. Corynetoxins are produced by Clavibacter bacteria that parasitize a nematode, Anguina agrostis, that may infect annual ryegrass. Corynetoxins inhibit glycoprotein synthesis, causing defective formation of various blood components of the reticulo-endothelial system. Another mycotoxin in ryegrass is sporidesmin, which causes liver damage and secondary photosensitization (facial eczema). Fusarium toxins such as zearalenone and trichothecenes also occur in forage grasses. Kikuyugrass poisoning results in severe damage to the ruminal epithelium and omasal mucosa, and neurological signs. The causative agent, which may be associated with army worm predation of the grass, has not been identified. The properties and significance of these toxins are reviewed.
Publication Date: 1995-03-01 PubMed ID: 7608026DOI: 10.2527/1995.733909xGoogle Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Review
Summary
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This piece of research looks into the effects of endogenous toxins and mycotoxins present in forage grasses on livestock health. These toxins, produced either by the plant itself or by endophytic fungi, can lead to a variety of health issues including neurological damage, hypoxia, bone demineralization, and damage to the ruminal epithelium and omasal mucosa.
Toxins Present in Grasses
- The research discusses several types of toxins that are found in forage grasses including Phalaris spp. (tryptamine and carboline alkaloids), sorghums (cyanogenic glycosides), and tropical grasses containing oxalates and saponins.
- These toxins can have neurological effects, produce ryegrass staggers syndrome, cause hypoxia, induce photosensitization, and cause bone demineralization.
- Endophytic fungi, present in grasses, produce toxins such as ergot alkaloids in tall fescue and tremorgens (e.g., lolitrem B) in perennial ryegrass. These toxins can have severe neurologic effects on livestock.
Mechanisms of Toxin Action
- Further toxicity can be brought about by the corynetoxins produced by Clavibacter bacteria that parasitize a nematode, Anguina agrostis, that may infect annual ryegrass. These toxins inhibit the synthesis of glycoproteins which disrupts the formation of various blood components of the reticulo-endothelial system.
- Another damaging mycotoxin is sporidesmin which causes liver damage and secondary photosensitization (facial eczema) in livestock.
- Fusarium toxins such as zearalenone and trichothecenes can also be found in forage grasses.
Kikuyugrass Poisoning
- The research also mentions Kikuyugrass poisoning which results in severe damage to the ruminal epithelium and omasal mucosa of livestock and also triggers neurological signs
- Interestingly, the causative agent of this poisoning, potentially associated with army worm predation of the grass, has not been identified in this research.
Significance of the Study
- By exploring the properties and effects of these numerous toxins, the research provides substantial information toward the understanding and management of toxin-induced health issues in livestock.
- Better knowledge about these toxins can help in developments to mitigate their harmful effects, thus improving the health and productivity of livestock.
Cite This Article
APA
Cheeke PR.
(1995).
Endogenous toxins and mycotoxins in forage grasses and their effects on livestock.
J Anim Sci, 73(3), 909-918.
https://doi.org/10.2527/1995.733909x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis 97331-6702, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Acremonium / isolation & purification
- Acremonium / metabolism
- Animal Feed / analysis
- Animal Feed / microbiology
- Animal Feed / poisoning
- Animals
- Carbolines / analysis
- Carbolines / poisoning
- Cattle
- Ergot Alkaloids / analysis
- Ergot Alkaloids / metabolism
- Horses
- Lolium / chemistry
- Lolium / microbiology
- Mycotoxins / analysis
- Mycotoxins / poisoning
- Plant Poisoning / veterinary
- Poaceae / chemistry
- Poaceae / microbiology
- Sheep
- Toxins, Biological / analysis
- Toxins, Biological / poisoning
- Tryptamines / analysis
- Tryptamines / poisoning
Citations
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