Suspected poisoning of sheep by Ixiolaena brevicompta

A mortality in sheep attributed to poisoning by Ixiolaena brevicompta is described. Clinical signs included reduced exercise tolerance, weakness and recumbency or sudden death. Elevated serum creatinine phosphokinase concentration and dystrophic muscle lesions were found consistently. Extensive losses occurred but only in sheep forced to eat herbage in which mature, seeded I. brevicompta predominated.