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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2020; 10(2); doi: 10.3390/ani10020365

Answers to the Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Horse Feeding and Management Practices to Reduce the Risk of Atypical Myopathy.

Abstract: In 2014, atypical myopathy (AM) was linked to Acer pseudoplatanus (sycamore maple) in Europe. The emergence of this seasonal intoxication caused by a native tree has raised many questions. This manuscript aims at answering the five most frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding (1) identification of toxic trees; reduction of risk at the level of (2) pastures and (3) equids; (4) the risk associated with pastures with sycamores that have always been used without horses being poisoned and (5) the length of the risk periods. Answers were found in a literature review and data gathered by AM surveillance networks. A guide is offered to differentiate common maple trees (FAQ1). In order to reduce the risk of AM at pasture level: Avoid humid pastures; permanent pasturing; spreading of manure for pasture with sycamores in the vicinity and avoid sycamore maple trees around pasture (FAQ2). To reduce the risk of AM at horse level: Reduce pasturing time according to weather conditions and to less than six hours a day during risk periods for horses on risk pasture; provide supplementary feeds including toxin-free forage; water from the distribution network; vitamins and a salt block (FAQ3). All pastures with a sycamore tree in the vicinity are at risk (FAQ4). Ninety-four percent of cases occur over two 3-month periods, starting in October and in March, for cases resulting from seeds and seedlings ingestion, respectively (FAQ5).
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Publication Date: 2020-02-24 PubMed ID: 32102384PubMed Central: PMC7071031DOI: 10.3390/ani10020365Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research explores the connection between sycamore maple trees and atypical myopathy (AM), a toxification causing harm to horses, and offers guidance in identifying and mitigating risks associated with exposure to these trees. It focuses on managing horse feeding and environment to reduce the risk of intoxication.

Introduction

The study aims to address five key questions commonly asked about AM caused by sycamore maple trees. Led by an analysis of current literature and data collected from AM surveillance networks, the document provides recommendations on identifying potentially toxic trees, minimizing horse exposure to the toxins at both the grassland, and individual horse level, assessing the level of risk posed by pastures, and how risk periods can be effectively evaluated.

Identification of Toxic Trees

  • The study provides a practical guide for distinguishing common maple trees from those that risk causing AM (FAQ 1).

Reducing Risk in Pastures

  • Suggestions for mitigating the risk to horses cultivated at the pasture level include tactics such as avoiding wet pastures, preventing the spreading of manure on pastures that have sycamore maples nearby, and steering clear of having sycamore maple trees around pastures (FAQ 2).

Reducing Risk for Equids

  • The study also proposes recommendations for lowering the risk at the level of individual horses. Proposed tactics include reducing pasture access time based on weather conditions, particularly during high-risk periods, offering supplementary food that does not contain toxins and water from distribution networks, and providing vitamins and a salt block (FAQ 3).

Risk Associated with Sycamore Pastures

  • According to the research, all pastures that contain a sycamore tree in their vicinity present a risk, even if horses have previously been on these pastures without any poisoning incidents (FAQ 4).

Understanding the Risk Periods

  • The study reveals that 94% of AM cases happen over two main 3-month periods, commencing in October and March, a pattern corresponding to the ingestion of seeds and seedlings respectively. This data significantly informs the appropriate timing and precautionary measures for those maintaining the welfare of horses on such pastures (FAQ 5).

Cite This Article

APA
Votion DM, François AC, Kruse C, Renaud B, Farinelle A, Bouquieaux MC, Marcillaud-Pitel C, Gustin P. (2020). Answers to the Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Horse Feeding and Management Practices to Reduce the Risk of Atypical Myopathy. Animals (Basel), 10(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10020365

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 2

Researcher Affiliations

Votion, Dominique-Marie
  • Equine Pole, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège 1 (Sart Tilman), Belgium.
François, Anne-Christine
  • Department of Functional Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), University of Liège, 4000 Liège 1 (Sart Tilman), Belgium.
Kruse, Caroline
  • Department of Functional Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Physiology and Sport Medicine, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), University of Liège, 4000 Liège 1 (Sart Tilman), Belgium.
Renaud, Benoit
  • Department of Functional Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), University of Liège, 4000 Liège 1 (Sart Tilman), Belgium.
Farinelle, Arnaud
  • Fourrages Mieux asbl, 6900 Marloie, Belgium.
Bouquieaux, Marie-Catherine
  • Equine Pole, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège 1 (Sart Tilman), Belgium.
Marcillaud-Pitel, Christel
  • Réseau d'Epidémio-Surveillance en Pathologie Équine (RESPE), 14280 Saint-Contest, France.
Gustin, Pascal
  • Department of Functional Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), University of Liège, 4000 Liège 1 (Sart Tilman), Belgium.

Grant Funding

  • Projet SAMA-D31-1381/S1 / Service Public de Wallonie
  • 2018-2020-002 / Institut français du cheval et de l'équitation
  • R.CRFA.2991 / Les Fonds Spéciaux pour la Recherche (FSR)

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 9 times.
  1. François AC, Taminiau B, Renaud B, Gonza-Quito IE, Massey C, Hyde C, Piercy RJ, Douny C, Scippo ML, Daube G, Gustin P, Delcenserie V, Votion DM. In Vitro Investigation of Equine Gut Microbiota Alterations During Hypoglycin A Exposure. Animals (Basel) 2025 Nov 19;15(22).
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  2. François AC, Cesarini C, Taminiau B, Renaud B, Kruse CJ, Boemer F, van Loon G, Palmers K, Daube G, Wouters CP, Lecoq L, Gustin P, Votion DM. Unravelling Faecal Microbiota Variations in Equine Atypical Myopathy: Correlation with Blood Markers and Contribution of Microbiome. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jan 26;15(3).
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