title: Correlation of ergovaline and lolitrem B levels in endophyte-infected perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne).
abstract: The varieties of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) infected with the endophytic fungus Neotiphodium lolii contain several classes of toxic alkaloids, including ergopeptide alkaloids and lolitrem alkaloids. Lolitrem B, a potent tremorgen, is generally considered to be the predominant alkaloid in endophyte-infected perennial ryegrass. Ergovaline, a vasoconstrictor normally associated with endophyte-infected tall fescue (Festuca arudinacea), is also present in endophyte infected perennial ryegrass. Clinical signs of animals ingesting endophyte-infected perennial ryegrass are consistent with the presence of lolitrem B. However, clinical signs normally associated with ergovaline poisoning are not usually observed in animals ingesting endophyte-infected perennial ryegrass. A survey was conducted to quantitate both lolitrem B and ergovaline in 459 perennial ryegrass straw samples received at the Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Samples were analyzed for each alkaloid using separate high-performance liquid chromatography analyses. A strong positive correlation between the 2 alkaloids (r2 = 0.7335) was observed, especially in the samples containing <3,000 ppb (ng/g) lolitrem B. The threshold levels above which clinical signs typically occur are 2,000 ppb lolitrem B and 300-400 ppb ergovaline. All of the samples analyzed contained <425 ppb ergovaline.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis 97331, USA.
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Hovermale
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Craig
mesh_terms: D000820:Animal Diseases; D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000662:veterinary; D004879:Ergotamines / Q000032:analysis*; D005658:Fungi; D026121:Indole Alkaloids; D008129:Lolium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D004879:Ergotamines; D026121:Indole Alkaloids; D009183:Mycotoxins; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; C076760:ergovaline; C033673:lolitrem B