Fumonisin B1 concentrations in feeds from 45 confirmed equine leukoencephalomalacia cases.
Abstract: During the fall of 1989 and winter of 1990, numerous reports of equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM) occurred from many regions of the United States. Typically, horses were consuming feed partially or entirely composed of corn and/or corn screenings. From October 1989 through May 1990, samples from 55 confirmed or suspected ELEM cases were received at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Ames, Iowa, for fumonisin B1 analysis. Samples from 9 cases in 1984-1985 were also obtained. Fumonisin B1, a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium moniliforme, causes ELEM, but little is known of naturally occurring toxic or safe levels in feeds. To determine what levels of fumonisin B1 in feeds are associated with ELEM, 45 selected cases were studied. The fumonisin B1 concentrations ranged from less than 1 ppm to 126 ppm, with the majority of the samples above 10 ppm. All types of feeds were included: corn, screenings, sweet feeds, and commercially pelleted rations. The length of exposure varied from 7 to greater than 35 days. Horse feed samples not associated with ELEM were also collected and analyzed. None of the nonproblem feed samples contained fumonisin B1 levels greater than 8 ppm.
Publication Date: 1991-07-01 PubMed ID: 1911996DOI: 10.1177/104063879100300310Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Disease Etiology
- Disease Management
- Disease Outbreaks
- Disease Prevention
- Disease Surveillance
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- Epidemiology
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Horses
- Infection
- Infectious Disease
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- Veterinary Care
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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The research article focuses on observing fumonisin B1 levels in horse feeds from 45 confirmed cases of equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM) across the United States during the fall of 1989 and winter of 1990. The study aims to identify a correlation between the occurrence of this disease and the levels of the toxin in the feeds.
Background
- The report focuses on a significant number of equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM) incidents reported in various regions of the United States during the fall of 1989 and winter of 1990.
- Equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM) is a brain disease in horses associated with the consumption of corn-based feeds.
- The common pattern among these cases was that the affected horses were feeding on food, either partially or entirely composed of corn and/or corn screenings.
Scope and Methodology of the Study
- Sample feeds from 55 suspected or confirmed ELEM cases were collected for analysis, along with samples from 9 cases in 1984-1985.
- The study focuses on fumonisin B1, a toxin produced by the Fusarium moniliforme fungus which is known to cause ELEM. However, there is limited knowledge about the safe or naturally occurring toxic levels of this toxin in feeds.
- To fill this information gap, the researchers chose to study 45 selected cases, aiming to determine what concentration levels of fumonisin B1 in feeds are associated with ELEM.
Findings
- Concentrations of fumonisin B1 in the selected samples ranged from less than 1 part per million (ppm) to as high as 126 ppm, with most of the samples containing more than 10 ppm of the toxin.
- All types of feeds were tested, including corn, screenings, sweet feeds, and commercially pelleted rations.
- The duration of exposure to the toxin through feed consumed by the horses varied from a minimum of 7 days to over 35 days.
- The study also gathered and analyzed horse feed samples not associated with ELEM, and found that none had fumonisin B1 levels exceeding 8 ppm.
Cite This Article
APA
Ross PF, Rice LG, Reagor JC, Osweiler GD, Wilson TM, Nelson HA, Owens DL, Plattner RD, Harlin KA, Richard JL.
(1991).
Fumonisin B1 concentrations in feeds from 45 confirmed equine leukoencephalomalacia cases.
J Vet Diagn Invest, 3(3), 238-241.
https://doi.org/10.1177/104063879100300310 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- US Department of Agriculture, National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Ames, IA 50010.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Feed / poisoning
- Animals
- Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
- Encephalomalacia / chemically induced
- Encephalomalacia / epidemiology
- Encephalomalacia / veterinary
- Food Microbiology
- Fumonisins
- Fusarium
- Horse Diseases / chemically induced
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horses
- Mycotoxins / poisoning
- United States / epidemiology
Citations
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