The isolation and cultivation of some fungi from soils and pastures associated with facial eczema disease of sheep

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Abstract
Some fungi, isolated from soil and pasture grasses, have been examined in investigations relating to facial eczema disease of sheep. Cultures of fungi were submitted to Ruakura Animal Research Station for the “beaker test”, which had frequently been found to give positive results with toxic grass. A positive test was given by a high-sporing strain of Sporidesmium bakeri Syd., isolated from pasture grass. Negative tests were given by the other species. Eleven fungi (six species), including a strain of S. bakeri, were grown on modified Czapek-Dox and Raulin-Thom media and fed to guinea pigs. Examination of livers at Wallaceville Animal Research Station showed no symptoms characteristic of the facial eczema toxin associated with grass. A high-sporing strain and two other strains of S. bakeri were later cultured on a number of media and the macerated fungal felts and culture fluids were sent to Ruakura Animal Research Station for animal feeding experiments. Some of these cultures produced in the guinea pig symptoms associated with facial eczema disease.

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