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Equine veterinary journal2015; 48(4); 414-417; doi: 10.1111/evj.12499

Samaras and seedlings of Acer pseudoplatanus are potential sources of hypoglycin A intoxication in atypical myopathy without necessarily inducing clinical signs.

Abstract: Ingestion of sycamore seeds (Acer pseudoplatanus) is the likely source of hypoglycin A in atypical myopathy (AM) but ingestion of seedlings in spring might also contribute to intoxication. Objective: To test for hypoglycin A in seeds and seedlings collected on pastures where AM cases were reported and compare its concentration in serum of affected and healthy horses. Methods: Field investigation of clinical cases. Methods: Whenever present, samaras (the winged nuts that each contain one seed) and/or seedlings were collected from pastures of 8 AM cases and 5 unaffected horses from different premises. Two AM cases were each co-grazing with an apparently healthy horse. Acylcarnitines and hypoglycin A were quantified in blood samples of all horses involved in the study. Results: Hypoglycin A was detected in serum of AM (5.47 ± 1.60 μmol/l) but not in healthy controls pasturing where A. pseudoplatanus trees were not present. However, hypoglycin A was detected at high concentrations (7.98 μmol/l) in serum of a clinically healthy horse grazing a pasture with seedlings and samaras and also in the 2 healthy horses co-grazing with AM cases (0.43 ± 0.59 μmol/l). Hypoglycin A was detected in all samples of seeds and spring seedlings of A. pseudoplatanus. Conclusions: Atypical myopathy can be associated with the ingestion of sycamore samaras and also ingestion of seedlings. Hypoglycin A can be detected in the blood of horses with no detectable clinical signs at pasture in which there is A. pseudoplatanus. Determination of hypoglycin A concentration in blood is useful for screening for exposure in suspected cases of AM.
© 2015 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2015-10-06 PubMed ID: 26278545DOI: 10.1111/evj.12499Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 focuses on the hazardous substance hypoglycin A found in sycamore seeds and seedlings of Acer pseudoplatanus, which is identified as a cause of atypical myopathy (AM) in horses. The study explores and draws correlations between the presence of hypoglycin A and the health of horses.

Objective and Methodology

  • The objective was to analyze and compare the concentration of hypoglycin A in the seeds and seedlings collected from where AM cases were reported, as well as in the blood of diseased and healthy horses.
  • The researchers conducted a field investigation through which they gathered samaras (the winged nuts containing seeds) or seedlings from the pastures of 8 horses affected by AM and 5 unaffected horses located on different premises.
  • Two AM-affected horses were sharing their grazing space with healthy horses. The researchers quantified hypoglycin A and acylcarnitines (a group of metabolites) in the blood samples of all horses participating in the study.

Results

  • Hypoglycin A was discovered in the serum of AM-affected horses, but not in healthy horses that weren’t in contact with Acer pseudoplatanus trees.
  • Despite showing no clinical signs, one healthy horse who had been grazing in an area with Acer pseudoplatanus seedlings and samaras had a high concentration of hypoglycin A in its blood, along with 2 other healthy horses sharing pasture with AM-affected horses.
  • All samples of Acer pseudoplatanus seeds and spring seedlings had traces of hypoglycin A.

Conclusions

  • Sycamore samaras and seedling ingestion has been associated with AM occurrence.
  • The research suggests that horses can have hypoglycin A in their blood without showing any clinical symptoms, particularly when grazing in pastures with Acer pseudoplatanus trees.
  • The study highlights that measuring the concentration of hypoglycin A in a horse’s blood can be a useful indicator for exposure and potential risk of AM. In this way, it could assist in early detection and potentially preventative measures.

Cite This Article

APA
Baise E, Habyarimana JA, Amory H, Boemer F, Douny C, Gustin P, Marcillaud-Pitel C, Patarin F, Weber M, Votion DM. (2015). Samaras and seedlings of Acer pseudoplatanus are potential sources of hypoglycin A intoxication in atypical myopathy without necessarily inducing clinical signs. Equine Vet J, 48(4), 414-417. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12499

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 48
Issue: 4
Pages: 414-417

Researcher Affiliations

Baise, E
  • Department of Animal Productions: Biostatistics, Economy and Animal Selection, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Belgium.
Habyarimana, J A
  • Department of Functional Sciences, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Belgium.
Amory, H
  • Equine Pole, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Belgium.
Boemer, F
  • Biochemical Genetics Laboratory, CHU Sart-Tilman, University of Liege, Belgium.
Douny, C
  • Department of Food Sciences, Laboratory of Food Analysis, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH) - Veterinary Public Health, University of Liège, Belgium.
Gustin, P
  • Department of Functional Sciences, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Belgium.
Marcillaud-Pitel, C
  • Réseau d'EpidémioSurveillance en Pathologie Equine (RESPE), Caen, France.
Patarin, F
  • Equine Pole, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Belgium.
Weber, M
  • Department of Functional Sciences, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Belgium.
Votion, D-M
  • Equine Pole, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Belgium.

MeSH Terms

  • Acer / chemistry
  • Animals
  • Horse Diseases / chemically induced
  • Horses
  • Hypoglycins / chemistry
  • Hypoglycins / toxicity
  • Muscular Diseases / chemically induced
  • Muscular Diseases / veterinary
  • Seedlings / chemistry
  • Seeds / chemistry

Citations

This article has been cited 19 times.
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