Pithomyces chartarum spores on pasture and their relation to facial eczema in sheep

Abstract

Thornton and Sinclair's method of counting spores from washed herbage samples and Brook's volumetric spore trap were used to measure the seasonal fluctuation in numbers of spores from Pithomyces chartarum on pasture, and the results obtained from the two methods were found to agree closely.

A strong positive correlation was obtained between estimated numbers of spores on pastures and the degree of facial eczema in lambs grazing thereon.

Strong negative correlations were obtained between spore numbers and liveweight gains of the lambs, and between degree of liver damage and liveweight gains.