A disease of grazing livestock, known as 'espichamento' in Brazil and 'enteque seco' in Argentina characterized by deposition of calcium phosphate in soft tissues, has been diagnosed for many years. The disorder occurs following the chronic ingestionof a toxic plant called Solanum malacoxylon, which contains a glycoside conjugated with vitamin D_3 (1,25 [OH]_2D_3) (Haussler et al., 1976; Wasserman et al., 1976). Solatium malacoxylon causes hypercalcaernia, hyperphosphataemia and extensive mineralization of soft tissues (Collier, 1926; Worker and Carrillo, 1967; Carrillo et al., 1971; Dobereiner et al., 1975).
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