Effects of feeding a blend of grains naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins on feed intake, serum chemistry, and hematology of horses, and the efficacy of a polymeric glucomannan mycotoxin adsorbent.
Abstract: The feeding of Fusarium mycotoxin-contaminated grains adversely affects the performance of swine and poultry. Very little information is available, however, on adverse effects associated with feeding these mycotoxin-contaminated grains on the performance of horses. An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding a blend of grains naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins on feed intake, serum immunoglobulin (Ig) concentrations, serum chemistry, and hematology of horses. A polymeric glucomannan mycotoxin adsorbent (GM polymer) was also tested for efficacy in preventing Fusarium mycotoxicoses. Nine mature, nonexercising, light, mixed-breed mares were assigned randomly to one of three dietary treatments for 21 d. The horses were randomly reassigned and the experiment was subsequently replicated in time following a 14-d washout interval. Feed consumed each day was a combination of up to 2.8 kg of concentrates and 5 kg of mixed timothy/alfalfa hay. The concentrates fed included the following: 1) control, 2) blend of contaminated grains (36% contaminated wheat and 53% contaminated corn), and 3) blend of contaminated grains + 0.2% GM polymer. Diets containing contaminated grains averaged 15.0 ppm of deoxynivalenol, 0.8 ppm of 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol, 9.7 ppm of fusaric acid, and 2.0 ppm of zearalenone. Feed intake by all horses fed contaminated grains was reduced (P < 0.001) compared with controls throughout the experiment. Supplementation of 0.2% GM polymer to the contaminated diet increased (P = 0.004) feed intake of horses compared with those fed the unsupplemented contaminated diet. Serum activities of gamma-glutamyltransferase were higher (P = 0.047 and 0.027) in horses fed the diet containing contaminated grain compared with those fed the control diet on d 7 and 14, but not on d 21 (P = 0.273). Supplementation of GM polymer to the contaminated diet decreased (P < 0.05) serum gamma-glutamyltransferase activities of horses compared with those fed unsupplemented contaminated diet on d 7 and 14. Other hematology and serum chemistry measurements including serum IgM, IgG, and IgA, were not affected by diet. It was concluded that the feeding of grains naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins caused a decrease in feed intake and altered serum gamma glutamyltransferase activities. The supplementation of GM polymer prevented these mycotoxin-induced adverse effects.
Publication Date: 2003-09-13 PubMed ID: 12968685DOI: 10.2527/2003.8192123xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research focuses on the effects of feeding horses with grains contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins, including changes in feed intake, serum chemistry, and hematology. It also investigates the effectiveness of a polymeric glucomannan mycotoxin adsorbent (GM polymer) in mitigating these effects.
Research Approach
- The researchers conducted an experiment with nine mature, non-exercising, light, mixed-breed mares. The horses were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments for 21 days.
- Post a 14-day washout interval, the horses were reassigned, and the experiment was replicated.
- The daily feed for each horse comprised a combination of up to 2.8 kg of concentrates and 5 kg of mixed timothy/alfalfa hay.
- The concentrates included: control, a blend of contaminated grains, and a blend of contaminated grains with 0.2% GM polymer.
Findings of the Research
- Diets containing contaminated grains saw reduced feed intake by all horses when compared with controls throughout the experiment.
- Supplementation of the contaminate diet with 0.2% GM polymer increased feed intake, implying that GM polymer may help mitigate the negative effects of Fusarium mycotoxins.
- Higher serum activities of gamma-glutamyltransferase, an enzyme involved in amino acid transport, were observed in horses fed the diet containing contaminated grain compared to those fed the control diet on days 7 and 14. This was not observed on day 21.
- Supplementing the contaminated diet with GM polymer decreased serum gamma-glutamyltransferase activities, suggesting a potentially protective effect of the polymer.
- Other hematology and serum chemistry measurements, including serum immunoglobulin (Ig) concentrations (IgM, IgG, and IgA), were not affected by the diet.
Conclusion
- Feeding grains naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins led to a decrease in feed intake and an alteration in serum gamma-glutamyltransferase activities.
- The supplementation of GM polymer to the horses’ diet prevented these mycotoxin-induced adverse effects.
Cite This Article
APA
Raymond SL, Smith TK, Swamy HV.
(2003).
Effects of feeding a blend of grains naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins on feed intake, serum chemistry, and hematology of horses, and the efficacy of a polymeric glucomannan mycotoxin adsorbent.
J Anim Sci, 81(9), 2123-2130.
https://doi.org/10.2527/2003.8192123x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Research Centre, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
MeSH Terms
- Adsorption
- Animal Feed / adverse effects
- Animal Feed / microbiology
- Animals
- Blood Chemical Analysis / veterinary
- Cathartics / administration & dosage
- Cathartics / pharmacology
- Eating / drug effects
- Edible Grain / chemistry
- Edible Grain / microbiology
- Female
- Food Contamination
- Fusarium / metabolism
- Horses / blood
- Horses / growth & development
- Horses / physiology
- Immunoglobulin A / blood
- Immunoglobulin G / blood
- Immunoglobulin M / blood
- Mannans / administration & dosage
- Mannans / pharmacology
- Mycotoxins / administration & dosage
- Mycotoxins / antagonists & inhibitors
- Mycotoxins / metabolism
- Random Allocation
- gamma-Glutamyltransferase / metabolism
Citations
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