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RESEARCH ARTICLE

In vitro detection of hepatocytotoxic metabolites from Drechslera biseptata: a contributing factor to acute bovine liver disease?

M. R. Aslani B , I. Pascoe C , M. Kowalski A , A. Michalewicz A , M. A. S. Retallick A and S. M. Colegate A D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A CSIRO Livestock Industries, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Private Bag 24, Geelong, Vic. 3220, Australia.

B Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, PO Box 91775-1793, Mashhad, Iran.

C Department of Primary Industries and Environment, Knoxfield, Vic. 3180, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: steve.colegate@csiro.au

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46(5) 599-604 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA05204
Submitted: 28 July 2005  Accepted: 7 February 2006   Published: 12 May 2006

Abstract

Acute bovine liver disease, which causes photosensitisation and sudden death in dairy cattle in the southern parts of Australia, has been tentatively associated with the presence of Cynosurus echinatus L. (rough dog’s tail) in the pasture. Also tentatively implicated is the known phytopathogenic fungus Drechslera biseptata that has been isolated from C. echinatus collected at the time of, and from the sites of, outbreaks of acute bovine liver disease. Aqueous and hexane extracts of in vitro cultures of D. biseptata caused binucleation of cultured rat hepatocytes whereas the methanolic extracts caused severe degeneration and necrosis. A methanolic extract of entire C. echinatus collected from a toxic paddock showed the same degenerative toxic effect on the cultured rat hepatocytes. High pressure liquid chromatographic separation and mass spectrometric analysis of the isolated hepatocytotoxic metabolites indicated the possibility of cytochalasin-like compounds.

Additional keywords: Cynosurus echinatus, cytochalasins, Drechslera biseptata, hepatotoxicity, mycotoxin, rough dog’s tail.


Acknowledgments

Dr Max Tate (School of Agriculture and Wine, University of Adelaide, South Australia) graciously supplied the authenticated cytochalasins A and B. The authors also thank Dr Deborah Middleton and Dr Axel Colling for reviewing this report on behalf of CSIRO Livestock Industries before submission.


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