Effects of feeding a blend of grains naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins on feed intake, metabolism, and indices of athletic performance of exercised horses.
Abstract: An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of feeding blends of grains naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins to mature, exercised horses, and to test the efficacy of a polymeric glucomannan mycotoxin adsorbent (GM polymer) in preventing Fusarium mycotoxicoses. Six mature, mixed-breed mares with an average BW of 530 kg were assigned to one of three dietary treatments for 21 d in a replicated 3 x 3 Latin square design. Feed consumed each day was a combination of up to 3.5 kg of concentrates and 5.0 kg of mixed timothy/alfalfa hay (as-fed basis). The concentrates fed included 1) manage; 2) blend of contaminated grains; and 3) contaminated grains + 0.2% GM polymer (MTB-100, Alltech Inc., Nicholasville, KY). Concentrates containing contaminated grains averaged 11.0 ppm deoxynivalenol, 0.7 ppm 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol, and 0.8 ppm zearalenone (as-fed basis). Feed intake and BW were monitored over a 21-d period. Horses were maintained on a fixed exercise schedule throughout the experiment. At the end of the experiment, each horse completed a time-to-fatigue treadmill step test. Variables measured during pretest, each step of the test, and 5 and 10 min posttest were as follows: 1) time-to-fatigue, 2) heart rate, 3) hematological variables, and 4) serum lactate concentration. Each step consisted of 2 min of fast trot with a 2% increase in incline after each 2 min. Feed intake by horses fed contaminated grains was decreased compared with controls throughout the experiment (P < 0.05). Supplementation of 0.2% GM polymer to the contaminated diet did not alter feed intake by horses compared with those fed the unsupplemented contaminated diet. All hay was consumed regardless of concentrate fed. Weight loss from 0 to 21 d was observed in horses fed contaminated grains compared with controls (P < 0.05). No effect of diet was seen on variables used to measure athletic ability, although the results showed an expected response to exercise for a fit horse. We conclude that exercised horses are susceptible to Fusarium mycotoxicoses as indicated by appetite suppression and weight loss.
Publication Date: 2005-05-14 PubMed ID: 15890804DOI: 10.2527/2005.8361267xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research investigates the effects of feeding horses grains contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins, focusing on how it impacts their feed intake, metabolism and athletic performance. The study also evaluates whether a specific mycotoxin absorber, GM polymer, can help prevent negative effects.
Research Methodology
- Researchers carried out the experiment on six mature, mixed-breed mares. These horses bore an average body weight of 530 kg.
- Each was given one of three diet options for 21 days. The used experimental design was a 3 x 3 Latin square design.
- The daily diet for every horse comprised up to 3.5 kg of concentrates and 5.0 kg of mixed timothy/alfalfa hay. The concentrates took three forms: standard manage; a blend of grains contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins; and contaminated grains+ 0.2% GM polymer.
- The contaminated grains contained specific toxic substances: deoxynivalenol, 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol, and zearalenone.
- The experiment kept track of the feed intake and body weight over the 21-day period and all horses carried out a consistent exercise regime.
Testing and Results
- At the end of the experiment, each horse underwent a time-to-fatigue treadmill test, which measured variables before, during and post-testing. The variables included time-to-fatigue, heart rate, hematological variables, and serum lactate concentration.
- The researchers concluded that horses consuming the contaminated grains ate less compared to their peers over the course of the experiment.
- Additionally, the introduction of GM polymer to the contaminated diet did not change the eating behavior.
- All horses completely consumed the hay component of their diet irrespective of the concentrate fed.
- Horses consuming the contaminated grains lost weight within the 21-day window in comparison to the control group.
Conclusion
- Despite the diet not noticeably affecting athletic abilities, it was concluded that exercised horses are vulnerable to Fusarium mycotoxicoses, as indicated by diminished appetite and weight loss.
Cite This Article
APA
Raymond SL, Smith TK, Swamy HV.
(2005).
Effects of feeding a blend of grains naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins on feed intake, metabolism, and indices of athletic performance of exercised horses.
J Anim Sci, 83(6), 1267-1273.
https://doi.org/10.2527/2005.8361267x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Guelph, and University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Feed / analysis
- Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
- Animals
- Eating / drug effects
- Exercise Test / veterinary
- Female
- Food Contamination
- Fusarium
- Horses / metabolism
- Horses / physiology
- Mycotoxicosis / prevention & control
- Mycotoxicosis / veterinary
- Mycotoxins / analysis
- Mycotoxins / pharmacology
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Polymers / administration & dosage
- Polymers / pharmacology
- Random Allocation
- Time Factors
- Weight Loss / drug effects
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Schrenk D, Bignami M, Bodin L, Del Mazo JKCJ, Grasl-Kraupp B, Hogstrand C, Leblanc JC, Nielsen E, Ntzani E, Petersen A, Sand S, Schwerdtle T, Vleminckx C, Wallace H, Dänicke S, Nebbia CS, Oswald IP, Rovesti E, Steinkellner H, Hoogenboom LR. Assessment of information as regards the toxicity of deoxynivalenol for horses and poultry. EFSA J 2023 Feb;21(2):e07806.
- Dänicke S, Saltzmann J, Liermann W, Glatter M, Hüther L, Kersten S, Zeyner A, Feige K, Warnken T. Evaluation of Inner Exposure of Horses to Zearalenone (ZEN), Deoxynivalenol (DON) and Their Metabolites in Relation to Colic and Health-Related Clinical-Chemical Traits. Toxins (Basel) 2021 Aug 23;13(8).
- Knutsen HK, Alexander J, Barregård L, Bignami M, Brüschweiler B, Ceccatelli S, Cottrill B, Dinovi M, Grasl-Kraupp B, Hogstrand C, Hoogenboom LR, Nebbia CS, Oswald IP, Petersen A, Rose M, Roudot AC, Schwerdtle T, Vleminckx C, Vollmer G, Wallace H, De Saeger S, Eriksen GS, Farmer P, Fremy JM, Gong YY, Meyer K, Naegeli H, Parent-Massin D, Rietjens I, van Egmond H, Altieri A, Eskola M, Gergelova P, Ramos Bordajandi L, Benkova B, Dörr B, Gkrillas A, Gustavsson N, van Manen M, Edler L. Risks to human and animal health related to the presence of deoxynivalenol and its acetylated and modified forms in food and feed. EFSA J 2017 Sep;15(9):e04718.
- Knutsen HK, Alexander J, Barregård L, Bignami M, Brüschweiler B, Ceccatelli S, Cottrill B, Dinovi M, Edler L, Grasl-Kraupp B, Hogstrand C, Hoogenboom LR, Nebbia CS, Petersen A, Rose M, Roudot AC, Schwerdtle T, Vleminckx C, Vollmer G, Wallace H, Dall'Asta C, Dänicke S, Eriksen GS, Altieri A, Roldán-Torres R, Oswald IP. Risks for animal health related to the presence of zearalenone and its modified forms in feed. EFSA J 2017 Jul;15(7):e04851.
- Schumann B, Winkler J, Mickenautsch N, Warnken T, Dänicke S. Effects of deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN), and related metabolites on equine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in vitro and background occurrence of these toxins in horses. Mycotoxin Res 2016 Aug;32(3):153-61.
- Schulz AK, Kersten S, Dänicke S, Coenen M, Vervuert I. Effects of deoxynivalenol in naturally contaminated wheat on feed intake and health status of horses. Mycotoxin Res 2015 Nov;31(4):209-16.
- Liesener K, Curtui V, Dietrich R, Märtlbauer E, Usleber E. Mycotoxins in horse feed. Mycotoxin Res 2010 Feb;26(1):23-30.
- Vasatkova A, Krizova S, Adam V, Zeman L, Kizek R. Changes in metallothionein level in rat hepatic tissue after administration of natural mouldy wheat. Int J Mol Sci 2009 Mar;10(3):1138-60.
- Minervini F, Giannoccaro A, Fornelli F, Dell'Aquila ME, Minoia P, Visconti A. Influence of mycotoxin zearalenone and its derivatives (alpha and beta zearalenol) on apoptosis and proliferation of cultured granulosa cells from equine ovaries. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2006 Nov 30;4:62.
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