Ryegrass Staggers: The Presence of Lolitrem Neurotoxins in Perennial Ryegrass Seed

Abstract Extract Sir:- Recently, two potent neurotoxins named lolitrem A and lolitrem B were isolated from herbage collected from pastures on which the livestock disorder ryegrass staggers (RGS) occurred.Citation et al.(1) We now wish to report that samples of perennial rygrass (Loliun yeretzrze L.) seed obtained from several locations in New Zealand contained potent neurotoxins which include lolitrem A and lolitrem B. Further, when pellets made from lolitrem neurotoxin-containing seed were fed to sheep, symptoms indistinguishable from those of severe, natural RGS were induced in four sheep, and mild symptoms in three sheep.