Equine Mycotoxins

Steve Ensley; Michelle Mostrom

doi:10.1016/j.cveq.2023.10.002

Equine Mycotoxins

Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract. 2024 Apr;40(1):83-94. doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2023.10.002. Epub 2023 Dec 7.

Authors

Steve Ensley¹, Michelle Mostrom²

Affiliations

¹ Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, P217 Mosier Hall, 1800 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.
² North Dakota State University, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, 4035 19th Avenue North, Department 7691 P.O. Box 6050, Fargo, North Dakota 58108-6050, USA. Electronic address: michelle.mostrom@ndsu.edu.

PMID: 38061965
DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2023.10.002

Abstract

The main mycotoxins involved in adverse equine health issues are aflatoxins, fumonisins, trichothecenes, and probably ergovaline (fescue grass endophyte toxicosis). Most exposures are through contaminated grains and grain byproducts, although grasses and hays can contain mycotoxins. Clinical signs are often nonspecific and include feed refusal, colic, diarrhea, and liver damage but can be dramatic with neurologic signs associated with equine leukoencephalomalacia and tremorgens. Specific antidotes for mycotoxicosis are rare, and treatment involves stopping the use of contaminated feed, switching to a "clean" feed source, and providing supportive care.

Keywords: Aflatoxin; Deoxynivalenol; Equine; Fumonisins; Mycotoxins; T-2 toxin; Trichothecenes; Zearalenone.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Food Contamination / analysis
Horse Diseases* / chemically induced
Horse Diseases* / therapy
Horses
Mycotoxins* / analysis
Mycotoxins* / toxicity
Poaceae
Trichothecenes* / analysis
Zearalenone* / analysis

Substances

Mycotoxins
Zearalenone
Trichothecenes