Occurrence of Fumonisin in Forage Grass in New Zealand

Fumonisin B(1) (FB(1)) was isolated from samples of forage grass originating in paddocks associated with an idiopathic disease of Canadian wapiti and wapiti-red deer hybrids characterized by "ill thrift" and liver dysfunction. Four of 40 samples contained 1, 3, 6, and 9 ppm (micrograms per gram) of FB(1) and 4, 0.5, 2, and 0.5 ppm, respectively, of the methyl ester of FB(1). Analyses were done by ion spray mass spectrometry and confirmed by both fast atom bombardment (solids probe) and mass spectral analysis by electron impact ionization of the trifluoroacetate derivative of the base hydrolyzed product (pentolamine) of FB(1). This article contains the first report of the presence of fumonisin B(1) in grass.