Analysis of Canadian and Irish forage, oats and commercially available equine concentrate feed for pathogenic fungi and mycotoxins.
Abstract: Respiratory infections, recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) and exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) are major causes of poor performance in horses. Fungi and mycotoxins are now recognised as a major cause of these conditions. The most notable fungi are Aspergillus and Fusarium. Fungal spores can originate from forage, bedding and feed and, in turn, these fungal spores can produce a series of mycotoxins as secondary metabolites.This study set out to ascertain the degree of fungal and mycotoxin contamination in feed and fodder used in Irish racing yards over a one-year period. Weather conditions in forage producing areas were sampled by Met Eireann and the Canadian Meteorological Service.Fifty per cent of Irish hay, 37% of haylage and 13% of Canadian hay contained pathogenic fungi. Of the mycotoxins, T2 and zearalenone were most prominent. Twenty-one per cent of Irish hay and 16% of pelleted feed contained zearalenone. Forty per cent of oats and 54% of pelleted feed contained T2 toxins.
Publication Date: 2007-04-01 PubMed ID: 21851693PubMed Central: PMC3113828DOI: 10.1186/2046-0481-60-4-231Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research study investigates the contamination of Irish and Canadian horse feeds by pathogenic fungi and mycotoxins, and how it might relate to poor performance and health issues in horses.
Background
- This study is based on the connection between respiratory problems in horses — such as infections, Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO), and Exercise Induced Pulmonary Haemorrhage (EIPH) — and the presence of fungi and mycotoxins.
- Fungi like Aspergillus and Fusarium and mycotoxins produced by these fungi are considered major culprits behind these diseases. Septic fungi and mycotoxins can originate from forage, bedding, and feed used for horses.
- The aim of this research is to determine the extent of this fungal and mycotoxin contamination in the feed and fodder used in Irish racing horse yards. The study spanned over one-year period.
Methodology
- As part of this study, weather conditions in forage producing areas were sampled by the National Meteorological Services of Ireland and Canada.
- The focus was on the most common types of feed used — hay, haylage, oats, and commercially available pelleted feed.
Findings
- The study found significant contamination of feeds. Half of the Irish hay, 37% of haylage, and 13% of Canadian hay samples were found to contain pathogenic fungi.
- Among the mycotoxins, T2 and zearalenone, which are produced by molds, were dominant contaminants.
- Among the Irish hay samples, 21% were found to have zearalenone and 16% of pelleted feed samples were contaminated with it.
- Furthermore, 40% of oats and 54% of pelleted feed samples contained T2 toxins.
Implications
- The high prevalence of pathogenic fungi and mycotoxin contamination in horse feed poses serious health risks for horses, particularly respiratory health issues.
- This study indicates that feed safety measures should be taken seriously in order to prevent diseases in horses. Contaminated feed could lead to poor performance in horses, especially concerning for racing yards.
Cite This Article
APA
Buckley T, Creighton A, Fogarty U.
(2007).
Analysis of Canadian and Irish forage, oats and commercially available equine concentrate feed for pathogenic fungi and mycotoxins.
Ir Vet J, 60(4), 231-236.
https://doi.org/10.1186/2046-0481-60-4-231 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Irish Equine Centre, Johnstown, Naas, Co, Kildare, Ireland. tbuckley@equine-centre.ie.
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Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Durham AE. Association between forage mycotoxins and liver disease in horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2022 Jul;36(4):1502-1507.
- Yiannikouris A, Apajalahti J, Siikanen O, Dillon GP, Moran CA. Saccharomyces cerevisiae Cell Wall-Based Adsorbent Reduces Aflatoxin B1 Absorption in Rats.. Toxins (Basel) 2021 Mar 13;13(3).
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