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- Title
Toxicity of endophyte-infected ryegrass hay containing high ergovaline level in lactating ewes.
- Authors
Zbib, N.; Repussard, C.; Tardieu, D.; Priymenko, N.; Domange, C.; Guerre, P.
- Abstract
The symbiotic association of Epichloë festucae var. lolii (formerly named Neotyphodium lolii) with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) leads to the production of ergovaline (EV) and lolitrem B (LB) that are toxic for livestock. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of feeding endophyte-infected ryegrass (SE+) hay on 16 lactating ewes (BW 80 ± 10 kg) in comparison with endophyte-free ryegrass (SE-) hay to investigate the putative mechanisms of action of EV and LB and to evaluate their persistence in milk and animal tissues. The mean EV and LB concentrations in SE+ hay were 851 and 884 µg/kg DM, respectively, whereas these alkaloids were below the limit of detection in SE- hay. No effect of SE+ was observed on animal health and skin temperature whereas prolactin decreased and significant differences between hays were observed from d 7 to 28 of the study (P < 0.03) but had no effect on milk production. Hematocrit and biochemical analyses of plasma revealed no significant difference between SE+ and SE-, whereas cortisol concentration differed significantly on d 28 (P = 0.001). Measurement of oxidative damage and antioxidant enzyme activities in plasma, liver, and kidneys revealed a slight increase in some enzyme activities involved in defense against oxidative damage in the SE+ fed ewes. Slight variations in the activities of hepatic and kidney flavin monooxygenase enzymes were observed, whereas in the kidney, glutathione S-transferase activity decreased significantly (P = 0.002) in the SE+ fed ewes, whereas uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase activity increased (P = 0.001). After 28 d of exposure of ewes to the SE+ hay, low EV and LB concentrations were measured in tissues. The highest concentration of EV was observed in the liver (0.68 µg/kg) whereas fat contained the highest concentration of LB (2.39 µg/kg). Both toxins were also identified at the trace level in milk.
- Subjects
TOXICITY testing; RYEGRASSES as feed; ENDOPHYTES; GRASS diseases &; pests; ERGOVALINE
- Publication
Journal of Animal Science, 2015, Vol 93, Issue 8, p4098
- ISSN
0021-8812
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2527/jas.2014-8848