An outbreak of equine leukoencephalomalacia at Oaxaca, Mexico, associated with fumonisin B1.
Abstract: Equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM), swine pulmonary oedema and human oesophageal cancer have been associated with fumonisine B1 (FB1) ingestion. For the first time in this study it is reported that FB1 was identified as being associated with an outbreak of ELEM at Oaxaca, Mexico. Symptoms of ELEM and Equine Venezuelan Encephalitis (EVE) are similar and a different diagnosis is obligatory. In the geographical area (Oaxaca, Mexico) where donkeys died showing a neurological syndrome, 14 corn samples were collected. With the use of TLC (Thin layer chromatography) and HPLC (High performance liquid chromatography) all collected samples resulted positive to FB1. In the area of study, this syndrome was reported to be the cause of death of 100 donkeys, after 3 postmortem examinations in which macroscopic and microscopic cerebral white manner liquefactive necrosis were observed, when FB1 concentration was determined in the samples collected, using HPLC and TLC. It was concluded that HPLC is a highly sensitive method for the detection of FB1 through the formation of an OPA derivative. However, the reverse phase TLC plate and the visualisation of the coloured reaction with the vanillin acidic solution is more objective. FB1 concentration in the studied samples ranged from 0.67 to 13.3 ppm. It was concluded that FB1 was the cause of leukoencephalomalacia reported in donkeys in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico.
Publication Date: 1998-08-28 PubMed ID: 9719762DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0442.1998.tb00831.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Case Reports
- Clinical Study
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Technique
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Etiology
- Disease Outbreaks
- Encephalitis
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- High-performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
- Horses
- In Vivo
- Laboratory Methods
- Necrosis
- Neurological Diseases
- Toxins
- Veterinary Care
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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The research paper examines an outbreak of a neurological disorder in donkeys in Oaxaca, Mexico, and explores the connection between this outbreak and the ingestion of fumonisin B1, a toxic substance found in moldy corn.
Understanding Equine Leukoencephalomalacia and Fumonisin B1
- Equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM) is a fatal disease that affects the brain tissue of horses and donkeys. The symptoms of ELEM and Equine Venezuelan Encephalitis are similar, necessitating thorough and careful diagnosis.
- Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a mycotoxin produced by the Fusarium fungi species, commonly found on corn. This toxin has been linked to ELEM, swine pulmonary edema, and human esophageal cancer.
The Incident in Oaxaca, Mexico
- An outbreak of a neurological disorder, later identified as ELEM, caused the death of around 100 donkeys in Oaxaca.
- As part of the investigation, 14 corn samples were collected from the affected area and analyzed using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).
- All collected corn samples tested positive for FB1, providing a hard link between the outbreak and the ingestion of the toxin.
Research Findings and Conclusion
- Postmortem examinations revealed macroscopic and microscopic cerebral white matter liquefactive necrosis – a key indicator of ELEM.
- FB1 concentrations in the samples ranged from 0.67 to 13.3 ppm.
- The researchers concluded that FB1 was the primary cause of the ELEM outbreak among donkeys.
- The study also highlighted that HPLC is a highly sensitive method for detecting FB1, while the reverse phase of TLC plate and the visualisation of the coloured reaction with the vanillin acidic solution provide more objective results.
Cite This Article
APA
Rosiles MR, Bautista J, Fuentes VO, Ross F.
(1998).
An outbreak of equine leukoencephalomalacia at Oaxaca, Mexico, associated with fumonisin B1.
Zentralbl Veterinarmed A, 45(5), 299-302.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0442.1998.tb00831.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Toxycology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, National University of Mexico.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Feed / analysis
- Animal Feed / microbiology
- Animals
- Carboxylic Acids / adverse effects
- Carboxylic Acids / analysis
- Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
- Encephalomalacia / epidemiology
- Encephalomalacia / etiology
- Encephalomalacia / veterinary
- Equidae
- Fumonisins
- Mexico / epidemiology
- Mycotoxins / adverse effects
- Mycotoxins / analysis
- Zea mays / chemistry
- Zea mays / microbiology
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Schrenk D, Bignami M, Bodin L, Chipman JK, Del Mazo J, Grasl-Kraupp B, Hogstrand C, Leblanc JC, Nielsen E, Ntzani E, Petersen A, Sand S, Schwerdtle T, Vleminckx C, Wallace H, Daenicke S, Nebbia CS, Oswald IP, Rovesti E, Steinkellner H, Hoogenboom LR. Assessment of information as regards the toxicity of fumonisins for pigs, poultry and horses.. EFSA J 2022 Aug;20(8):e07534.
- Gross M, Ploetz CP, Gottschalk C. Immunochemical detection of mycotoxins in donkey milk.. Mycotoxin Res 2019 Feb;35(1):83-87.
- Vendruscolo CP, Frias NC, de Carvalho CB, de Sá LR, Belli CB, Baccarin RY. Leukoencephalomalacia Outbreak in Horses due to Consumption of Contaminated Hay.. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Nov;30(6):1879-1881.
- Reyes-Velázquez WP, Figueroa-Gómez RM, Barberis M, Reynoso MM, Rojo FG, Chulze SN, Torres AM. Fusarium species (section Liseola) occurrence and natural incidence of beauvericin, fusaproliferin and fumonisins in maize hybrids harvested in Mexico.. Mycotoxin Res 2011 Aug;27(3):187-94.
- García S, Heredia N. Mycotoxins in Mexico: epidemiology, management, and control strategies.. Mycopathologia 2006 Sep;162(3):255-64.
- Ono EY, Fungaro MH, Sofia SH, Figueira EL, Gerage AC, Ichinoe M, Sugiura Y, Ueno Y, Hirooka EY. Trends of fumonisin contamination and animal intoxication through monitoring 1991 to 1997 corn crop in the State of Paraná, Brazil.. Mycopathologia 2004 Nov;158(4):451-5.
- Kuhn DM, Ghannoum MA. Indoor mold, toxigenic fungi, and Stachybotrys chartarum: infectious disease perspective.. Clin Microbiol Rev 2003 Jan;16(1):144-72.
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