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Equine veterinary journal2012; 45(4); 419-426; doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2012.00684.x

Seasonal pasture myopathy/atypical myopathy in North America associated with ingestion of hypoglycin A within seeds of the box elder tree.

Abstract: We hypothesised that seasonal pasture myopathy (SPM), which closely resembles atypical myopathy (AM), was caused by ingestion of a seed-bearing plant abundant in autumn pastures. Objective: To identify a common seed-bearing plant among autumn pastures of horses with SPM, and to determine whether the toxic amino acid hypoglycin A was present in the seeds and whether hypoglycin metabolites were present in SPM horse serum or urine. Methods: Twelve SPM cases, 11 SPM pastures and 23 control farms were visited to identify a plant common to all SPM farms in autumn. A common seed was analysed for amino acid composition (n = 7/7) by GC-MS and its toxic metabolite (n = 4/4) identified in conjugated form in serum [tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS)] and urine [gas chromatography (GC) MS]. Serum acylcarnitines and urine organic acid profiles (n = 7) were determined for SPM horses. Results: Seeds from box elder trees (Acer negundo) were present on all SPM and 61% of control pastures. Hypoglycin A, known to cause acquired multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD), was found in box elder seeds. Serum acylcarnitines and urine organic acid profiles in SPM horses were typical for MADD. The hypoglycin A metabolite methylenecyclopropylacetic acid (MCPA), known to be toxic in other species, was found in conjugated form in SPM horse serum and urine. Horses with SPM had longer turn-out, more overgrazed pastures, and less supplemental feeding than control horses. Conclusions: For the first time, SPM has been linked to a toxin in seeds abundant on autumn pastures whose identified metabolite, MCPA, is known to cause acquired MADD, the pathological mechanism behind SPM and AM. Further research is required to determine the lethal dose of hypoglycin A in horses, as well as factors that affect annual seed burden and hypoglycin A content in Acer species in North America and Europe.
© 2012 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2012-11-20 PubMed ID: 23167695DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2012.00684.xGoogle 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 presents a study that links the seasonal pasture myopathy (SPM), a horse disease, to the intake of hypoglycin A from the seeds of box elder trees, which becomes abundant during autumn. The toxic action of this amino acid seems to operate via a mechanism known as acquired multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD).

Objective and Methodology

The researchers aimed to identify a seed-bearing plant common in the autumn pastures of horses showing signs of seasonal pasture myopathy (SPM), which heavily mirrors the symptoms of atypical myopathy (AM). They also sought to confirm whether the SPM condition was the result of consuming the toxic amino acid hypoglycin A found in these plants.

  • Twelve instances of SPM were studied with additional visits to 11 SPM pastures and 23 control farms. The purpose was to find a plant common to all these locations during the autumn season.
  • A widely occurring seed from these visits was tested for its amino acid profile using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to check for the presence of hypoglycin A.
  • The serum and urine samples from the horses were also examined, looking for the metabolite of hypoglycin A, specifically in its conjugated form.
  • The researchers also explored the serum acylcarnitines and urine organic acid profiles of SPM-affected horses.

Results

  • The researchers identified seeds from box elder trees (Acer negundo) in all SPM and 61% of control pastures.
  • Hypoglycin A, known to cause MADD disorder, was discovered in box elder seeds. Thus, the ingestion of these seeds by horses potentially linked the cause of SPM and AM to this specific amino acid.
  • The serum acylcarnitines and urine organic acid profiles in SPM horses were found to be typical to instances of MADD, reinforcing the link.
  • The metabolite of hypoglycin A, methylenecyclopropylacetic acid (MCPA), known to be toxic in other species, was found in conjugated form in SPM horse serum and urine.
  • Horses with SPM had common conditions such as longer turn-out, overgrazed pastures, and less supplemental feeding compared to control horses.

Conclusions

The research, for the first time, links the condition of SPM to a toxin (hypoglycin A) in box elder seeds abundant in autumn pastures. The findings may serve as a critical ground for future research aimed at determining the lethal dose of hypoglycin A in horses, as well as the factors influencing the annual seed burden and hypoglycin A levels in Acer species across North America and Europe.

Cite This Article

APA
Valberg SJ, Sponseller BT, Hegeman AD, Earing J, Bender JB, Martinson KL, Patterson SE, Sweetman L. (2012). Seasonal pasture myopathy/atypical myopathy in North America associated with ingestion of hypoglycin A within seeds of the box elder tree. Equine Vet J, 45(4), 419-426. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2012.00684.x

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 45
Issue: 4
Pages: 419-426

Researcher Affiliations

Valberg, S J
  • Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St Paul, Minnesota, USA. valbe001@umn.edu
Sponseller, B T
    Hegeman, A D
      Earing, J
        Bender, J B
          Martinson, K L
            Patterson, S E
              Sweetman, L

                MeSH Terms

                • Acer / chemistry
                • Animals
                • Case-Control Studies
                • Cyclopropanes / chemistry
                • Cyclopropanes / urine
                • Data Collection
                • Female
                • Hypoglycins / blood
                • Hypoglycins / toxicity
                • Hypoglycins / urine
                • Iowa / epidemiology
                • Male
                • Minnesota / epidemiology
                • Muscular Diseases / chemically induced
                • Muscular Diseases / veterinary
                • Plant Poisoning / veterinary
                • Seasons
                • Seeds / chemistry
                • Surveys and Questionnaires
                • Wisconsin / epidemiology

                Citations

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