Implementation of a Method to Determine Lolitrem-B in Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) by Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

Lolitrem-B is a neurotoxic substance that causes the ryegrass staggers syndrome in cattle, sheep, and horses consuming ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) infected with endophytic fungus Neotyphodium lolii (Latch, Christensen, and Samuels) Glenn, Bacon, and Hanlin. Due to the increasing use of ryegrass pasture in southern Chile, it is necessary to know the content of lolitrem-B to optimize grazing management and reduce the effect on animal health. The objective of this study was to implement a method to determine lolitrem-B in ryegrass. Ryegrass samples were used without the endophyte, freeze-dried, and kept in darkness at -18 oC to establish the method. Then, a pure