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Home / Equine Research Bank / PLoS One / Detection of equine atypical myopathy-associated hypoglycin ...
PloS one2018; 13(7); e0199521; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199521

Detection of equine atypical myopathy-associated hypoglycin A in plant material: Optimisation and validation of a novel LC-MS based method without derivatisation.

Abstract: Hypoglycin A (HGA) toxicity, following ingestion of material from certain plants, is linked to an acquired multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency known as atypical myopathy, a commonly fatal form of equine rhabdomyolysis seen worldwide. Whilst some plants are known to contain this toxin, little is known about its function or the mechanisms that lead to varied HGA concentrations between plants. Consequently, reliable tools to detect this amino acid in plant samples are needed. Analytical methods for HGA detection have previously been validated for the food industry, however, these techniques rely on chemical derivatisation to obtain accurate results at low HGA concentrations. In this work, we describe and validate a novel method, without need for chemical derivatisation (accuracy = 84-94%; precision = 3-16%; reproducibility = 3-6%; mean linear range R2 = 0.999). The current limit of quantitation for HGA in plant material was halved (from 1μg/g in previous studies) to 0.5μg/g. The method was tested in Acer pseudoplatanus material and other tree and plant species. We confirm that A. pseudoplatanus is most likely the only source of HGA in trees found within European pastures.
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Publication Date: 2018-07-03 PubMed ID: 29969503PubMed Central: PMC6029767DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199521Google 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.

The research article discusses the development and validation of a new method for detecting the toxin hypoglycin A in plant materials without requiring a chemical alteration process. This toxin, when ingested, can cause a fatal form of equine muscle disease known as atypical myopathy.

Overview of the Study

  • The study focuses on improving the detection of the toxin hypoglycin A (HGA). This toxin is known for causing a lethal equine disease known as atypical myopathy, as a result of ingestion by horses.
  • The researchers note there is not much understanding about the function of HGA or why its concentrations vary between different plants. Thus, the need for an accurate method to detect its presence and concentration in plant materials.
  • Prior analytical methods for HGA detection have been validated primarily for the food industry, but these methods require chemical derivatisation, a process altering the chemical structure of HGA, for accurate results.

The New Method

  • In order to address the issues with current methods, the researchers developed a novel detection method for HGA that does not require chemical derivatisation.
  • This new method is reported to be highly accurate (84-94%), precise (3-16%), and reproducible (3-6%), with a mean linear range R2 value of 0.999, indicating a very high level of correlation.
  • As an additional advantage, this method managed to cut the current limit of quantitation for HGA in plant material in half, from 1µg/g in previous studies down to 0.5µg/g.

Implementation and Results

  • The method was tested on material from the Acer pseudoplatanus tree, among other tree and plant species.
  • The study found Acer pseudoplatanus to be most likely the only source of HGA in trees found within European pastures. Their discovery could be crucial in understanding the incidence of atypical myopathy in European horses and potentially in devising preventive measures against the disease.

Cite This Article

APA
González Medina S, Hyde C, Lovera I, Piercy RJ. (2018). Detection of equine atypical myopathy-associated hypoglycin A in plant material: Optimisation and validation of a novel LC-MS based method without derivatisation. PLoS One, 13(7), e0199521. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0199521

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 7
Pages: e0199521

Researcher Affiliations

González Medina, Sonia
  • Comparative Neuromuscular Diseases Laboratory, The Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom.
Hyde, Carolyne
  • Bio-Analysis Centre, London, United Kingdom.
Lovera, Imogen
  • Bio-Analysis Centre, London, United Kingdom.
Piercy, Richard J
  • Comparative Neuromuscular Diseases Laboratory, The Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Horse Diseases / etiology
  • Horses
  • Hypoglycins / adverse effects
  • Hypoglycins / analysis
  • Muscular Diseases / veterinary
  • Phytochemicals / adverse effects
  • Phytochemicals / analysis
  • Plant Poisoning / veterinary
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Conflict of Interest Statement

The Comparative Neuromuscular Diseases Laboratory receives payment for measurement of HGA in plant material and proceeds contribute to ongoing laboratory research. However, this does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials. Further, one or more authors are affiliated with the London Bioanalysis Centre. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

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Citations

This article has been cited 7 times.
  1. González-Medina S, Hyde C, Chang YM, Piercy RJ. Assessment of tree-associated atypical myopathy risk factors in Acer pseudoplatanus (sycamore) seeds and leaves. Equine Vet J 2025 Nov;57(6):1656-1665.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14475pubmed: 39865342google scholar: lookup
  2. El-Khatib AH, Lamp J, Weigel S. A sensitive LC-MS/MS method for the quantification of the plant toxins hypoglycin A and methylenecyclopropylglycine and their metabolites in cow's milk and urine and application to farm milk samples from Germany. Anal Bioanal Chem 2023 Apr;415(10):1933-1942.
    doi: 10.1007/s00216-023-04607-9pubmed: 36877265google scholar: lookup
  3. El-Khatib AH, Engel AM, Weigel S. Co-Occurrence of Hypoglycin A and Hypoglycin B in Sycamore and Box Elder Maple Proved by LC-MS/MS and LC-HR-MS. Toxins (Basel) 2022 Sep 1;14(9).
    doi: 10.3390/toxins14090608pubmed: 36136546google scholar: lookup
  4. Ortega S, Rodríguez C, Drummond H. Seasonal weather effects on offspring survival differ between reproductive stages in a long-lived neotropical seabird. Oecologia 2022 Jul;199(3):611-623.
    doi: 10.1007/s00442-022-05219-3pubmed: 35829792google scholar: lookup
  5. González-Medina S, Bevin W, Alzola-Domingo R, Chang YM, Piercy RJ. Hypoglycin A absorption in sheep without concurrent clinical or biochemical evidence of disease. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Mar;35(2):1170-1176.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.16077pubmed: 33675130google scholar: lookup
  6. Renaud B, François AC, Boemer F, Kruse C, Stern D, Piot A, Petitjean T, Gustin P, Votion DM. Grazing Mares on Pasture with Sycamore Maples: A Potential Threat to Suckling Foals and Food Safety through Milk Contamination. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jan 5;11(1).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11010087pubmed: 33466424google scholar: lookup
  7. Votion DM, François AC, Kruse C, Renaud B, Farinelle A, Bouquieaux MC, Marcillaud-Pitel C, Gustin P. Answers to the Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Horse Feeding and Management Practices to Reduce the Risk of Atypical Myopathy. Animals (Basel) 2020 Feb 24;10(2).
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