ECZEMA IN SHEEP

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28679, 1 September 1958, Page 7

ECZEMA IN SHEEP

Scientist Explain Research

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 31. : The director of the Soil Bureau of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (Mr N. H. Taylor) today explained the nature of soil fungus now being tested as a possible source of the poison causing facial eczema. The tiny fungus—known as stemphilium botryosum—flourishes during the warm rains on remnants of pasture withered during a previous dry spell. Last \yeek, Dr. C. P. McMeekan, superintendent of the Ruakura animal research station, described the discovery, of the fungus as “a notable advance” in the problem of facial eczema. The microbiological team of the soil bureau at Taita, Hutt Valley, has for some time been co-operating with the Ruakura team on research into the possibility that micro-organisms play a part in facial eczema.

Various strains of the fungus stemphylium have been isolated by Dr. R. H. Thornton, of the Soil Bureau, from facial eczemaproducing pastures in the Wai-' 1 kato and Palmerston North districts.

At Taita, Dr. D. Ross has grown cultures of these strains on various media and forwarded them to both Ruakura and . the Grasslands Division of the D.S.I.R. Reaction to Test

It has been shown at Ruakura that the spores from this fungus give the recognised result to the chemical test for “facial eczema grass” and a report on this work is being prepared for publication.

“The white precipitate in this test—the so-called ‘beaker test’— is not itself the toxin-producing facial eczema, but almost always accompanies it,” said Mr Taylor today. “Since the spores of the fungus produce this white precipitate, in is tempting to speculate that the fungus in some stage of its growth also produces the toxin. It is the results of such tests that are so eagerly awaited.” He added that the fungus stemphylium was not the only microorganism recognised by soil micobiologists as reaching its peak of growth before the facial eczema outbreaks, but so far it was the “most promising.” “The progress of the work is narticularly pleasing.” said Mr Tavlor. “because it illustrates how advances can be made by the willing ed-nperatinn o f the workers in quite dissimilar scientific organisations.”