Highly deoxynivalenol contaminated oats and immune function in horses

Arch Anim Nutr. 2012 Apr;66(2):149-61. doi: 10.1080/1745039x.2012.672220.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of deoxynivalenol (DON) on cellular and humoral immune parameters in horses. A feeding trial using naturally contaminated oats with high (20.2 mg/kg) and low (0.49 mg/kg) levels of DON was conducted. Two groups of five mares were fed 2 kg oats daily with high or low DON levels for two weeks, using a crossover design with a three-week wash-out period. No adverse effects on general health were observed. Only minor diet-related changes in differential blood counts and serum biochemistry were noted. Serum haptoglobin concentration was significantly elevated after feeding DON (p = 0.04). Lymphocyte subsets (CD4+ CD8+, CD2+, CD21+, MHCII+) and lymphocyte proliferation data (concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, pokeweed mitogen) were not different between feeding-groups. It can be concluded that daily DON intakes as high as 6.9 to 9.5 mg/100 kg BW appear to have no major impact on the measured immune response of horses, indicating that this species has a high tolerance for DON.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animal Feed / analysis*
  • Animals
  • Avena / chemistry*
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Diet / veterinary
  • Female
  • Food Contamination / analysis*
  • Horse Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Horse Diseases / immunology
  • Horses
  • Immunity, Cellular / drug effects
  • Immunity, Humoral / drug effects
  • Trichothecenes / chemistry*
  • Trichothecenes / toxicity*

Substances

  • Trichothecenes
  • deoxynivalenol