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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Feed-induced hypersalivation in horses from Austria, Germany...
Equine veterinary journal2024; 57(4); 1035-1043; doi: 10.1111/evj.14433

Feed-induced hypersalivation in horses from Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

Abstract: While previous reports come mostly from the southern Americas, several outbreaks of hypersalivation in horses were observed in Middle Europe from 2016 to 2018. Objective: To describe feed-induced hypersalivation in European horses. Methods: Analysis of feedstuffs. Methods: Veterinarians and horse or stable owners were encouraged to submit feedstuffs from case outbreaks of hypersalivation in which, infectious diseases or other systemic causes of the syndrome were ruled out and intoxication was suspected. Feedstuff analysis was performed, including gross examination, microscopic analysis of fine particles, and for hay and forage mycological culturing and mycotoxin testing. Results: Eleven case outbreaks were investigated. Typical clinical findings in the horses were either foamy saliva around the mouth or serous salivation with puddles forming on the ground. Some horses also showed lesions of the gingival mucosa and/or the tongue. Foamy hypersalivation, sometimes combined with lesions of tongue and/or gingiva, was associated with finding of ergot sclerotia and ergot alkaloids in hay or pasture plants (ergocornin and ergocorninin having the highest concentrations). Serous hypersalivation with massive loss of fluid was associated with the fungus Rhizoctonia spp. As indicated by the detection of traces of swainsonine, mycotoxin production on the forage was seen as likely cause. The cessation of clinical signs took days to weeks after diet change, probably depending on the duration, type and amount of toxin intake. Conclusions: Small number of case outbreaks, records of clinical findings and horses' management were incomplete and were reported by horse owners. Conclusions: Hypersalivation due to mycotoxins in the feed has become an emerging problem for horses in middle Europe.
© 2024 The Author(s). Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2024-11-15 PubMed ID: 39548687PubMed Central: PMC12135751DOI: 10.1111/evj.14433Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 explores the occurrence of hypersalivation in horses from Austria, Germany and Switzerland, attributing it to certain mycotoxins found in their feedstuff.

Objective of the Study

  • The primary goal of this study was to explore and describe the feed-induced hypersalivation in European horses, as distinct from past reports that were predominantly sourced from the southern Americas.

Methodology

  • The research conducted an analysis of feedstuff.
  • Veterinarians and horse or stable owners were asked to submit feedstuff from cases of hypersalivation. These cases should be those where infectious diseases or other systemic causes were already ruled out, and intoxication was suspected to be the cause.
  • The submitted feedstuff underwent extensive examination, including gross examination, microscopic analysis, and for hay and forage, mycological culturing and mycotoxin testing.

Study Outcomes

  • Eleven outbreaks of hypersalivation were examined.
  • A common clinical finding in these horses was either foamy saliva around the mouth or significant saliva production resulting in puddles forming on the ground. Some horses also had lesions on the gums and/or tongues.
  • Foamy hypersalivation was linked to the presence of ergot sclerotia and ergot alkaloids in the hay. Particularly ergocornin and ergocorninin were found in high concentrations.
  • Excessive fluid production in the form of saliva, called serous hypersalivation, was associated with the presence of a fungus known as Rhizoctonia spp. This was further supported by traces of swainsonine, a mycotoxin, suggesting its production on the forage to likely be the cause.
  • It was observed that changing the horses’ diet led to the cessation of the hypersalivation symptoms, however, the timeframe varied from days to weeks, depending on the duration, type, and quantity of toxin intake in the horses.

Conclusions

  • The study faced limitations such as the small number of case outbreaks and incomplete records of clinical findings and horse management.
  • Despite these limitations, the study concluded that hypersalivation due to mycotoxins in the feed is becoming an increasing problem for horses in Middle Europe.

Cite This Article

APA
Böswald LF, Gottschalk C, Kaltner F, Merk J, Schwaiger K, Kienzle E. (2024). Feed-induced hypersalivation in horses from Austria, Germany and Switzerland. Equine Vet J, 57(4), 1035-1043. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14433

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 57
Issue: 4
Pages: 1035-1043

Researcher Affiliations

Böswald, Linda Franziska
  • Lehrstuhl für Tierernährung und Diätetik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Gottschalk, Christoph
  • Lehrstuhl für Lebensmittelsicherheit, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Kaltner, Florian
  • Lehrstuhl für Lebensmittelsicherheit, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Merk, Joana
  • Lehrstuhl für Tierernährung und Diätetik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Schwaiger, Karin
  • Lehrstuhl für Lebensmittelsicherheit, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Kienzle, Ellen
  • Lehrstuhl für Tierernährung und Diätetik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / etiology
  • Horse Diseases / chemically induced
  • Animal Feed / analysis
  • Animal Feed / adverse effects
  • Switzerland / epidemiology
  • Austria / epidemiology
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Mycotoxins
  • Female
  • Salivation
  • Male
  • Disease Outbreaks / veterinary

Grant Funding

  • VETResearch

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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