Annual ryegrass toxicity – an animal disease caused by toxins produced by a bacterial plant pathogen

Abstract

Annual ryegrass toxicity (ARGT) is an acute and often fatal neurological disease of livestock caused by consumption of annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) seed heads infected with the bacterium Rathayibacter toxicus (formerly Clavibacter toxicus and Corynebacterium rathayi). These toxic seed heads may be present in pasture, crop stubbles or provided feed (hay, grain, crop fines or pellets).