Hypoglycin A concentrations in seeds of Acer pseudoplatanus trees growing on atypical myopathy-affected and control pastures.

This research investigated the potential link between hypoglycin A found in seeds of Acer pseudoplatanus trees and atypical myopathy (AM), a disease found in horses in Europe. The study found that these trees and the hypothesized toxin were present in pastures where AM had occurred, suggesting that preventing horses from grazing these trees’ seeds may help prevent the disease.

Objective and Hypothesis

• The researchers hypothesized that Acer pseudoplatanus, common in Europe, might be the source of hypoglycin A, a toxin linked to a disease called atypical myopathy (AM) in horses.
• The aim of the research was to establish the concentration of hypoglycin A in seeds of A. pseudoplatanus trees in pastures where past cases of AM had been reported.

Research Methodology

• The researchers used data from the University of Berne to identify six farms with a recorded history of AM cases (10 confirmed and 11 suspected) between 2007 and 2011.
• In October 2012, they collected A. pseudoplatanus seeds from 2 to 6 trees per pasture on the identified farms.
• For control comparison, the researchers also collected seeds from two farms where no AM cases had been reported before.
• These seeds were later analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) to detect and calculate the concentration of hypoglycin A.

Research Results

• A. pseudoplatanus trees were found in all pastures with a history of AM.
• All A. pseudoplatanus seeds analysed contained hypoglycin A, albeit in variable concentrations.
• The concentration of hypoglycin A ranged from 0.04 to 2.81 μg/mg (mean 0.69) on AM farms, and 0.10 to 9.12 μg/mg (mean 1.59) on control farms.

Conclusions and Recommendations

• The research concluded that there was a link between these European trees and the disease, corroborating the role of hypoglycin A in the disease’s occurrence.
• As a preventative measure, the researchers suggest that horses should not be allowed to graze in pastures hosting A. pseudoplatanus trees, especially during late fall and early spring when chances of disease occurrence might be highest.