[Studies on guinea pig fed on Brachiaria sp. (Tanner Grass) (author's transl)]

The investigation was developed with 80 female guinea pigs weighing about hundred grams. housed in groups of 15 or 20 animals. The daily treatments were: Brachiaria sp. (Tanner Grass), Brachiaria sp. (Tanner Grass) and meal, Brachiaria decumbens Stapf and the grass Napier. The guinea pigs fed on Brachiaria sp. did not show any symptomas observed in cattle grazing on that graminea. Liver and kidney damage detected upon histological investigation on those animals were different from those observed on intoxicated cattle. The metahemoglobinemic anemia also were not detected on guinea pigs feed on Brauchiaria sp. (Tanner Grass) (1, 2, 3, 7). The urine collected from these animals showed a dark colour, this pigmentation were not found in cattle urine. The dark urine colour of cattle grazing for about one month on "Tanner Grass" was due to hemoblobinuria. The survival time of the guinea pigs feed only with B. decumbens Stapf and the grass Napier was smoller as compared with the animals receiving Brachiaria sp. (Tanner Grass). The syndrome on cattle, the effect on guinea pig added to some other aspect like the fact that plant became more toxic (2) when green and luxurious suggest a similarity with the toxic activity of some species of Brassicas such as B. oleracea var. acephala D.C., B. olerace var. capitata L. and B napus L. (5, 8).