Current Thoughts on the Significance of Mycotoxins

Mycotoxins are harmful compounds that specific molds and fungi produce in soils, grains, and forages when moisture levels permit.
Share
Favorite
Close

No account yet? Register

ADVERTISEMENT

Mycotoxins are toxic metabolites produced by molds (fungi). Our understanding of the economic significance of feed-borne mycotoxins has often paralleled advances in analytical methodology used for measuring mycotoxin levels on feedstuffs.

Aflatoxin is a mycotoxin produced mainly by the molds Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, which are generally considered to be tropical or semi-tropical fungi thriving under conditions of high temperature and humidity. Four chemical forms of aflatoxin can be measured simultaneously by many commercial laboratories. Horses, like many other species, are very sensitive to feed-borne aflatoxins. Aflatoxins mainly target the liver, causing necrosis and potentially cancer.

More common on a global basis, however, are several hundred identified Fusarium mycotoxins. The study of Fusarium mycotoxicoses is considerably more complex than the study of aflatoxicosis. Fusarium fungi thrive in soils from areas with temperate climates including North America, much of Europe and Asia and South America. The most common Fusarium mycotoxins include DON (also known by the chemical name deoxynivalenol or the common name vomitoxin), zearalenone, fumonisin, and fusaric acid.

The feeding of blends of grains naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins, largely DON, has been reported to cause reduced concentrate consumption by sedentary mares with some evidence of liver damage also detected. Imposition of an exercise regime, however, resulted in increased concentrate consumption but weight loss then also was seen

Create a free account with TheHorse.com to view this content.

TheHorse.com is home to thousands of free articles about horse health care. In order to access some of our exclusive free content, you must be signed into TheHorse.com.

Start your free account today!

Already have an account?
and continue reading.

Share

Written by:

Related Articles

Stay on top of the most recent Horse Health news with

FREE weekly newsletters from TheHorse.com

Sponsored Content

Weekly Poll

sponsored by:

Where do you primarily feed your horse?
300 votes · 300 answers

Readers’ Most Popular

Sign In

Don’t have an account? Register for a FREE account here.

Need to update your account?

You need to be logged in to fill out this form

Create a free account with TheHorse.com!