HEPATOGENOUS PHOTOSENSITIZATION OF RUMINANTS BY BRACHIARIA-DECUMBENS AND PANICUM-DICHOTOMIFLORUM IN THE ABSENCE OF SPORIDESMIN - LITHOGENICSAPONINS MAY BE RESPONSIBLE

As part of a study of plants involved in crystal-associated hepatogeno us photosensitization diseases, samples of Brachiaria decumbens and Pa nicum dichotomiflorum on which cattle and goats had recently been phot osensitized were analyzed. The level of saponins associated with these photosensitization outbreaks Mere determined by GC-MS. Only low level s of Pithomyces chartarum spores were present on the B decumbens, and all isolates obtained failed to produce sporidesmin.