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Equine veterinary journal2013; 46(2); 146-149; doi: 10.1111/evj.12117

Identification of methylenecyclopropyl acetic acid in serum of European horses with atypical myopathy.

Abstract: It is hypothesised that European atypical myopathy (AM) has a similar basis as seasonal pasture myopathy in North America, which is now known to be caused by ingestion of hypoglycin A contained in seeds from the tree Acer negundo. Serum from horses with seasonal pasture myopathy contained the conjugated toxic metabolite of hypoglycin A, methylenecyclopropyl acetic acid (MCPA). Methods: Retrospective study on archived samples. Objective: 1) To determine whether MCPA-carnitine was present in serum of European horses confirmed to have AM; 2) to determine whether Acer negundo or related Acer species were present on AM pastures in Europe. Methods: Concentrations of MCPA-carnitine were analysed in banked serum samples of 17 AM horses from Europe and 3 diseased controls (tetanus, neoplasia and exertional rhabdomyolysis) using tandem mass spectrometry. Atypical myopathy was diagnosed by characteristic serum acylcarnitine profiles. Pastures of 12 AM farms were visited by experienced botanists and plant species were documented. Results: Methylenecyclopropyl acetic acid-carnitine at high concentrations (20.39 ± 17.24 nmol/l; range 0.95-57.63 nmol/l; reference: <0.01 nmol/l) was identified in serum of AM but not disease controls (0.00 ± 0.00 nmol/l). Acer pseudoplatanus but not Acer negundo was present on all AM farms. Conclusions: Atypical myopathy in Europe, like seasonal pasture myopathy in North America, is highly associated with the toxic metabolite of hypoglycin A, MCPA-carnitine. This finding coupled with the presence of a tree of which seeds are known to also contain hypoglycin A indicates that ingestion of Acer pseudoplatanus is the probable cause of AM. This finding has major implications for the prevention of AM.
© 2013 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2013-09-03 PubMed ID: 23773055DOI: 10.1111/evj.12117Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 suggests that atypical myopathy (AM) in European horses, a muscle disease, is likely caused by the ingestion of the toxic metabolite of hypoglycin A, methylenecyclopropyl acetic acid (MCPA). This finding mirrors what happens with seasonal pasture myopathy in North American horses and is linked to the ingestion of seeds from the tree Acer pseudoplatanus.

Research Objective

  • The two main objectives of this research were to determine if MCPA-carnitine was present in the serum of European horses diagnosed with AM, and to confirm if the tree Acer negundo or related species was present on the affected pastures in Europe.

Methodology

  • The researchers used retrospective study approach on previously collected samples.
  • They analyzed the concentrations of MCPA-carnitine in stored serum samples of 17 AM-affected horses from Europe and 3 diseased control samples (cases of tetanus, neoplasia and exertional rhabdomyolysis) using a specialized scientific technique known as tandem mass spectrometry.
  • AM was diagnosed through characteristic serum acylcarnitine profiles, a distinctive biochemical signature of the disease.
  • The pastures of 12 farms with AM affected horses were visited by experienced botanists to document the plant species present.

Results

  • High concentrations of MCPA-carnitine were observed in the AM horses but not in the disease control samples.
  • The tree Acer pseudoplatanus was found to be present on all AM farms, whereas Acer negundo was not found.

Conclusion

  • AM in Europe, like seasonal pasture myopathy in North America, is highly linked to the toxic metabolite of hypoglycin A, MCPA-carnitine.
  • The presence of Acer pseudoplatanus trees, whose seeds are known to contain hypoglycin A, on all AM farms suggests that ingestion of this tree’s seeds is the probable cause of AM in Europe.
  • This finding has significant implications for prevention as avoiding or limiting exposure to the seeds of Acer pseudoplatanus could prevent the disease.

Cite This Article

APA
Votion DM, van Galen G, Sweetman L, Boemer F, de Tullio P, Dopagne C, Lefère L, Mouithys-Mickalad A, Patarin F, Rouxhet S, van Loon G, Serteyn D, Sponseller BT, Valberg SJ. (2013). Identification of methylenecyclopropyl acetic acid in serum of European horses with atypical myopathy. Equine Vet J, 46(2), 146-149. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12117

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 46
Issue: 2
Pages: 146-149

Researcher Affiliations

Votion, D-M
  • Equine Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Belgium.
van Galen, G
    Sweetman, L
      Boemer, F
        de Tullio, P
          Dopagne, C
            Lefère, L
              Mouithys-Mickalad, A
                Patarin, F
                  Rouxhet, S
                    van Loon, G
                      Serteyn, D
                        Sponseller, B T
                          Valberg, S J

                            MeSH Terms

                            • Acer / chemistry
                            • Animals
                            • Cyclopropanes / blood
                            • Europe / epidemiology
                            • Female
                            • Horse Diseases / blood
                            • Horse Diseases / chemically induced
                            • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
                            • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
                            • Horses
                            • Hypoglycins / blood
                            • Hypoglycins / toxicity
                            • Male
                            • Muscular Diseases / blood
                            • Muscular Diseases / chemically induced
                            • Muscular Diseases / diagnosis
                            • Muscular Diseases / epidemiology
                            • Muscular Diseases / veterinary
                            • Plant Poisoning / diagnosis
                            • Plant Poisoning / veterinary
                            • Plants, Toxic
                            • Retrospective Studies
                            • Seasons

                            Citations

                            This article has been cited 23 times.
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