Mycotoxicosis In Horse

Mycotoxicosis in horse Dr.Kedar Karki

Mycotoxicoses • The contamination of feedstuffs with mycotoxins poses a serious threat to the health and productivity of animals. Mycotoxicoses are animal or human diseases caused by mycotoxin ingestion, inhalation or skin-contact. The effects of mycotoxicoses in animals are diverse, varying from immune suppression to death in severe cases, depending on toxin-related (type of mycotoxin consumed, level and duration of intake), animal-related (species, sex, age, breed, general health, immune status, nutritional standing) and environmental (farm management, hygiene, temperature) factors.

Mycotoxinshave different effects on the various organs and in the animal productivity and health. Below a simple explanation of the terms that will be used to describe the effects of mycotoxins in animals is given:

Immunosuppres sion:

when one or more functions of the immune system are suppressed, resulting in an impaired resistance to infectious agents.

Hematopoietic Effects:

hematopoiesis refers to the production of all types of bloods cells from the primitive cells (stem cells) in the bone marrow. The dysfunction of hematopoiesis leads firstly to the decrease of production of neutrophils (white cells that help the cell to kill and digest microorganisms engulfed by phagocytosis), thus perturbing the animals’ immune system and subsequently to the decrease of red blood cells, leading to anemia.

Hepatotoxic Effects:

hepatotoxicity refers to liver damage caused by toxic substances.

Nephrotoxic Effects:

nephrotoxicity refers to kidney damage caused by toxic substances. Nephropathy is the term used to describe kidney inflammation.

Reproductive Effects:

involve all the negative impacts in the reproductive system and in reproduction.

Teratogenic Effects:

refer to birth defects, both structural and functional, caused to the newborn.

Neurotoxic Effects:

when the nervous system is affected.

Carcinogenic Effects:

involve the promotion of cancer and of the spread of cancer cells.

Dermal Effects:

Dermal toxicity involves all the damage caused to the skin by toxic substances.

Gastro-intestinal Effects: involve all the effects which are caused in the gastrointestinal tract.

Performance Effects:

involve the changes in performance that can be detected by lower daily weight gain, poor feed conversion rates, lower production (eggs, milk) and decreased feed intake.

Pathological Effects:

Residues:

pathology refers to the study of organs in order to examine the effects of a certain disease. Changes from the normal appearance of a certain organ are known as pathological changes.

refer to the mycotoxin carry-over into blood and muscles which may and often lead to residues in animal products such as meat and eggs.

Effects of mycotoxins on the health of horses

• Some factors which complicate the process of dealing with mycotoxins are: • - Mycotoxins affect more than one system simultaneously, therefore producing a multiplicity of responses in the affected animals. This makes it harder to attribute the response to a single body system. - The effects observed are not necessarily unique to a given mycotoxin but may be shared by other toxins and pathogenic organisms, making it harder to establish a causeeffect relationship for individual mycotoxins. - Data gathered in experimental studies differ from the natural intoxications where there are many other factors (mentioned above) that can influence the disease condition. Also naturally caused mycotoxicoses are often more complex than those created in experimental studies due to the interactions between mycotoxins. • Due to these factors, it is possible that symptoms different to those presented below occur in animals. Younger animals are generally more susceptible to the toxic effects of all mycotoxins.

hole-in the-head-disease caused by fumonisins

Effects

Signs/Sym ptoms/ Remar ks

Hepatotoxic effects

Liver damage

Hematopoietic effects

Hemorrhages Anemia

Aflatoxins

S

Effects

Hepatotoxic effects

R

i g n s / S y m p t o m s / R e m a r k s e d u c

Effects

Immunosu ppressio Trichoth n ecene s

Signs/Sympto ms Decreased resistance to environmental and microbial stressors Increased susceptibility to diseases

Decreased Decreased feed intake performa Feed refusal nce Reduced weight

Effects

Fumonis Neurotoxic ins effects

Signs/Sympto ms Equine leukoencephaloma lacia (ELEM): Decreased feed consumption; lameness; ataxia, oral and facial paralysis; head pressing; recumbency

Zearale none

Effects

Signs/Sympto ms/Remarks

Reproducti ve effects

Infertility Enlargement of the uterus Abortions Vaginal prolapse

Effects

Signs/Sympto ms/Remar ks

Decreased resistance to environmental Immune and microbial stressors suppression Increased susceptibility to diseases Fescue toxins

Neurotoxic effects

Ryegrass staggers

Lower weight gain Increased body temperature Rough hair General effects coat Gangrenous necrosis of tissue in feet, tail and ears

Effects

Signs/Symptoms /Remarks

Ergot Reproductive Reproductive Alkaloi effects abnormalities ds