An investigation of the role of Fusarium moniliforme in duodenitis/proximal jejunitis of horses.

This research investigated whether toxins produced by the fungus Fusarium moniliforme could cause duodenitis/proximal jejunitis, a disease of the small intestine in horses. The results suggested that horses which consumed feeds with high toxin levels developed symptoms related to the disease.

Research Objective and Process

• The main purpose of this research was to investigate if the toxins produced by the fungus Fusarium moniliforme played a role in causing a specific equine disease, Duodenitis/Proximal Jejunitis (DPJ). Exit of dry matter from the stomach into the upper part of the small intestine slows down or comes to a halt in horses affected by DPJ.
• Horses with clinical signs of the disease were fed two feed samples, which were then cultured to isolate Fusarium moniliforme.

Development and Experimentation

• The researchers then grew these isolates on autoclaved corn to gauge their toxicity level. Autoclaving corn is the process of sterilizing it to ensure no biologically active substance can interfere with the experiment.
• A feeding trial was conducted involving different groups of horses. The experimental horses were fed feeds individually cultured with two different F. moniliforme isolates known to produce different levels of the toxin fumonisin B1. One group of control horses was fed the autoclaved corn not inoculated with the fungus.
• The toxin levels in feeds produced by these different isolates were also measured.
• The diets were prepared by diluting the culture material with sweet feed and clean corn, in different concentrations of the toxin over a span of 27 days.

Results

• The horses fed with feed containing higher concentrations of the toxins displayed an increase in certain enzymes in their blood, gamma-glutamyltransferase and L-iditol dehydrogenase, after around 7 to 21 days. These enzymes are often elevated in horses with liver disease, indicating potential liver damage as a result of toxin exposure.
• This suggested that horses consuming feeds with high levels of the toxin produced by Fusarium moniliforme can develop symptoms related to the equine disease, DPJ.

In short, the findings from this research highlighted the potential health risks associated with feeding horses with feed cultured with Fusarium moniliforme. It also brought attention to the need for better control and prevention measures when dealing with equine feeds that could be contaminated with such potentially harmful fungi and their toxins.