Australia
December 16, 2004
CSIRO Livestock
Industries and
Department of Agriculture
(WA) researchers are using new technologies to help control and
improve monitoring of the plant-associated disease, annual
ryegrass toxicity (ARGT).
Last week, Department veterinary toxicologist, Dr Jeremy Allen,
joined forces with three research groups - plant-associated
toxins, proteomics and genomics - at CSIRO Livestock Industries’
Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) in Geelong, Victoria.
In collaboration with Dr Allen, PhD students Megan Retallick and
Melissa Kowalski conducted a major toxicology trial, exposing
cultured rat liver cells to the toxins associated with ARGT.
CSIRO Plant–associated toxins group leader, Dr Steve Colegate,
says the five-day study had two major aims.
“The research team was trying to better understand the
sub-clinical disease by defining how low levels of toxins affect
cells.
“The study also aimed to develop new tools for the early
diagnosis of ARGT,” Dr Colegate says.
Dr Allen says that while there are several steps farmers can
take to help control ARGT the disease is still a significant
problem for Australia’s livestock industry.
“In Australia, tens of thousands of animals die from ARGT each
year and millions may be exposed to the toxins and suffer
sub-clinical disease. Annual costs associated with the disease
in Western Australia alone exceed $35 million,” he says.
The disease currently occurs in areas of Western Australia and
South Australia. In New South Wales it is associated with
blowngrass and is known as floodplain staggers.
The multidisciplinary research team believes that utilising new
technologies is the key to finding workable solutions for ARGT.
During the toxicology trial, Dr Allen documented changes to cell
morphology in real-time, while Ms Retallick and Ms Kowalski
collected cellular proteins and genetic material for further
research.
“If specific protein or gene changes occur only in response to
the toxins, then these may be useful as ‘biomarkers’ – tools for
early detection of toxin exposure,” Dr Colegate says.
“Early detection or recognition of low levels of exposure will
help farmers to better manage this disease and reduce stock and
productivity losses.”
If suitable biomarkers are found, it is hoped that these could
be incorporated into simple tests, allowing low level exposure
to the ARGT toxins to be detected on-farm. |