Measurement of urinary concentrations of the mycotoxins zearalenone and sterigmatocystin as biomarkers of exposure in mares.
Abstract: Mycotoxins may affect animal health, including reproduction. Little is known about the clinical relevance of exposure of horses to contaminated feed. This study aimed at (i) monitoring the levels of the mycotoxins zearalenone (ZEN), with its metabolites α- and β-zearalenol (α- and β-ZOL), and sterigmatocystin (STC) in urine samples from thoroughbred mares in Japan and (ii) relating these findings to the potential effects on reproductive efficacy of breeding mares. Sixty-three urine samples of breeding mares from 59 breeding farms were used. Urine samples and reproductive records were collected from each mare when it was presented to the stallion station. Urinary concentrations of ZEN, α- and β-ZOL, and STC were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). ZEN, α- and β-ZOL were measurable in the urine of all examined mares, indicating the prevalence of ZEN in equine feeds. In seven of the 63 samples, STC was also detected at levels ranging from 1.3 to 18.0 pg/mg creatinine. No significant correlation between the concentrations of mycotoxins and pregnancy status was observed. In conclusion, measurement of mycotoxins in urine samples is a useful non-invasive method for monitoring the systemic exposure of mares to multiple mycotoxins.
© 2017 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
Publication Date: 2017-09-18 PubMed ID: 28921680DOI: 10.1111/rda.13054Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This study investigates the levels of mycotoxins in horse urine and explores possible links between these concentrations and reproductive health. The toxins assessed were commonly found in horse feed, but there was no apparent correlation between their presence and pregnancy status in mares.
Research Objectives and Methodology
- The primary aim of the study was to monitor the levels of mycotoxins zearalenone (ZEN), α-zearalenol (α-ZOL), β-zearalenol (β-ZOL), and sterigmatocystin (STC) in urine samples sourced from thoroughbred mares in Japan.
- A secondary goal was to gauge if these mycotoxins impact the reproductive performance of breeding mares.
- Urine samples were obtained from mares across 59 breeding farms when they were brought to the stallion station.
- The research also utilized reproductive records for each mare to investigate potential relationships between mycotoxin levels and pregnancy status.
- The concentrations of ZEN, α- and β-ZOL, and STC in the urine were measured using a method known as liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).
Key Findings
- Traceable amounts of ZEN, α- and β-ZOL were detected in all mares’ urine samples. This suggests that ZEN is prevalent in horse feeds.
- STC was identified in seven of the 63 samples, with concentrations ranging from 1.3 to 18.0 pg/mg of creatinine.
- No significant correlation existed between the concentrations of the monitored mycotoxins and the mares’ pregnancy status.
Conclusions
- The measurement of mycotoxins in urine samples provides a non-invasive method to monitor systemic exposure of horse populations to multiple mycotoxins.
- This research is foundational in its field as little is known about the clinical relevance of horses’ exposure to mycotoxin-contaminated feed.
- Though the toxins were found in the samples, the results could not establish a direct link between the presence of these mycotoxins and reproductive health in mares.
Cite This Article
APA
Takagi M, Uno S, Kokushi E, Sato F, Wijayagunawardane M, Fink-Gremmels J.
(2017).
Measurement of urinary concentrations of the mycotoxins zearalenone and sterigmatocystin as biomarkers of exposure in mares.
Reprod Domest Anim, 53(1), 68-73.
https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.13054 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Laboratory of Theriogenology, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan.
- The Education and Research Center for Marine Resources and Environment, Faculty of Fisheries, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
- The Education and Research Center for Marine Resources and Environment, Faculty of Fisheries, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
- Equine Breeding Science, Hidaka Training and Research Center, Japan Racing Association, Hokkaido, Japan.
- Department of Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Division of Veterinary Pharmacology, Pharmacotherapy and Clinical Toxicology, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Yalelaan, The Netherlands.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Feed / analysis
- Animals
- Biomarkers / urine
- Chromatography, Liquid
- Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / urine
- Female
- Fertility / drug effects
- Food Contamination
- Horses
- Japan
- Male
- Mycotoxins / urine
- Pregnancy
- Sterigmatocystin / analogs & derivatives
- Sterigmatocystin / urine
- Tandem Mass Spectrometry
- Zearalenone / urine
- Zeranol / analogs & derivatives
- Zeranol / urine
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Shi J, Li G, Cui Y, Zhang Y, Liu D, Shi Y, He H. Surface-imprinted β-cyclodextrin-functionalized carbon nitride nanosheets for fluorometric determination of sterigmatomycin.. Mikrochim Acta 2019 Nov 19;186(12):808.
- Gadzała-Kopciuch R, Kwaśniewska K, Ludwiczak A, Skrzyniarz P, Jakubowski R, Nowak W, Wojtczak A, Buszewski B. Towards A New Approach for the Description of Cyclo⁻2,4-Dihydroxybenzoate, A Substance Which Effectively Mimics Zearalenone in Imprinted Polymers Designed for Analyzing Selected Mycotoxins in Urine.. Int J Mol Sci 2019 Mar 29;20(7).
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