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Effects of fusariotoxins in the equine species.
Abstract: Fumonisins, trichothecenes and zearalenone are the most commonly occurring Fusarium mycotoxins in cereal grains and animal feed. In this review, the toxicity of these mycotoxins in horses is considered with particular reference to recent data on specific and proposed syndromes. Compared to other animal species, very little information is available on the adverse effects of fusariotoxins in horses. Fumonisin B(1) (FB(1)) is the causative agent of leukoencephalomalacia, which is typified by depression, aimless circling, head pressing, paresis, ataxia, blindness and death. FB(1) has also been shown to cause liver damage and cardiovascular dysfunction. Exposure to deoxynivalenol in conjunction with other fusariotoxins seems to be associated with reduction of feed intake and decrease in bodyweight, whilst the T-2 Fusarium mycotoxin may typically induce oral lesions and zearalenone has been implicated in reproductive disorders. Many questions remain on the synergic effects of fusariotoxins and on a possible relationship between mycotoxins and equine colic.
Copyright © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2009-10-17 PubMed ID: 19837621DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2009.09.020Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Review
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 impact of fusariotoxins from Fusarium fungi found in cereal grains and horse feed on equine health. The study particularly focuses on how these mycotoxins possibly lead to various health issues in horses including neural and liver diseases, loss of bodyweight, oral issues, and reproductive disorders.
Fusariotoxins and Their Effects
- Fusariotoxins such as fumonisins, trichothecenes and zearalenone are present in cereal grains and animal feeds. The consumption of these infected grains can lead to the toxicity in animals including horses.
- Though the research on fusariotoxins’ impact on horses is limited, they’re known to cause a variety of health issues in this species.
Specific Fusariotoxin Effects
- Fumonisin B(1), a type of fusariotoxin, is known to cause leukoencephalomalacia in horses. This condition is characterized by depression, aimless circling, head pressing, paresis, ataxia, blindness, and even death.
- The same toxin, FB(1), also leads to liver damage and causes cardiovascular dysfunction in horses.
- Another fusariotoxin, deoxynivalenol, when present with other fusariotoxins, can be associated with the loss of appetite in horses leading to decrease in bodyweight.
- The T-2 Fusarium mycotoxin typically causes oral lesions in horses.
- Zearalenone, a fusariotoxin, has been found to cause reproductive disorders in horses.
Unanswered Questions in the Research
- The research on Fusariotoxins’ effects on horses is limited. Further studies are needed to understand the synergistic effects of different fusariotoxins when they act together.
- The potential connection between mycotoxins and equine colic, a common digestive disorder in horses, is yet to be explored. This opens up a new avenue for future research.
Cite This Article
APA
Caloni F, Cortinovis C.
(2009).
Effects of fusariotoxins in the equine species.
Vet J, 186(2), 157-161.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2009.09.020 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Sciences and Technologies for Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitá degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy. francesca.caloni@unimi.it
MeSH Terms
- Animal Feed
- Animals
- Food Contamination
- Fumonisins / poisoning
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horses
- T-2 Toxin / poisoning
- Trichothecenes / poisoning
- Zearalenone / poisoning
Citations
This article has been cited 12 times.- Meneely J, Greer B, Kolawole O, Elliott C. T-2 and HT-2 Toxins: Toxicity, Occurrence and Analysis: A Review. Toxins (Basel) 2023 Jul 29;15(8).
- Durham AE. Association between forage mycotoxins and liver disease in horses. J Vet Intern Med 2022 Jul;36(4):1502-1507.
- 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).
- Bischoff K, Moiseff J. Equine feed contamination and toxicology. Transl Anim Sci 2018 Feb;2(1):111-118.
- 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.
- Vance CK, King EH, Bowers SD, Ryan PL, Walters K, Shappell NW. Reproductive Performance of Mares Fed Dietary Zearalenone. Front Vet Sci 2019;6:423.
- Schertz H, Dänicke S, Frahm J, Schatzmayr D, Dohnal I, Bichl G, Schwartz-Zimmermann HE, Colicchia S, Breves G, Teifke JP, Kluess J. Biomarker Evaluation and Toxic Effects of an Acute Oral and Systemic Fumonisin Exposure of Pigs with a Special Focus on Dietary Fumonisin Esterase Supplementation. Toxins (Basel) 2018 Jul 17;10(7).
- Bertero A, Moretti A, Spicer LJ, Caloni F. Fusarium Molds and Mycotoxins: Potential Species-Specific Effects. Toxins (Basel) 2018 Jun 15;10(6).
- Gutleb AC, Caloni F, Giraud F, Cortinovis C, Pizzo F, Hoffmann L, Bohn T, Pasquali M. Detection of multiple mycotoxin occurrences in soy animal feed by traditional mycological identification combined with molecular species identification. Toxicol Rep 2015;2:275-279.
- Vendruscolo CP, Frias NC, de Carvalho CB, de Sá LR, Belli CB, Baccarin RY. Leukoencephalomalacia Outbreak in Horses due to Consumption of Contaminated Hay. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Nov;30(6):1879-1881.
- Ferrigo D, Raiola A, Causin R. Fusarium Toxins in Cereals: Occurrence, Legislation, Factors Promoting the Appearance and Their Management. Molecules 2016 May 13;21(5).
- Masching S, Naehrer K, Schwartz-Zimmermann HE, Sărăndan M, Schaumberger S, Dohnal I, Nagl V, Schatzmayr D. Gastrointestinal Degradation of Fumonisin B₁ by Carboxylesterase FumD Prevents Fumonisin Induced Alteration of Sphingolipid Metabolism in Turkey and Swine. Toxins (Basel) 2016 Mar 21;8(3).
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