Three Horses Die From Fumonsin Mycotoxins

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http://www.wbrz.com/stories/011403/new_deadhorses.shtml January 14, 2003 Toxic mold apparently killed at least three horses Associated Press A toxic mold in corn apparently killed at least three horses recently and may have killed some which were tested for West Nile but did not have the virus. State officials are telling veterinarians about the symptoms of poisoning from the mold, called fumonisin, and how to test for it, state Agriculture Commissioner Bob Odom said Tuesday. "The recent outbreak of West Nile in horses has everyone looking at staggering, blindness and other neurological symptoms as being clear cases of West Nile," Odom said. But, he said, many did not have the virus. Those animals, which died last spring, were not tested for fumonisin, said Dr. Beine, lab director of the department's Agricultural Chemistry office. The corn tainted with fumonisin caused at least three deaths. Most farm animals can tolerate the mold, but even 5 parts per million can kill horses, he said. Ten recent tests on corn feed were positive for the mold. The three horses which died recently turned out to be eating corn with 90 parts per million of the mold, Beine said. He said he was primed to look for the mold. "I came down from Kentucky where fumonisin is tested on every horse that we feed," he said. Fumonisin and aflatoxin, another toxin found in corn, thrive on wet weather. However, owners shouldn't panic just because fumonisin has been found. "I'm not saying not to feed your horses corn feed. I would say the horse owner should use a good grade of horse feed. Definitely don't buy one-feed-fits-all, and don't buy a horse feed that is using a lot of low-quality corn just because it is cheaper," advised Beine. There is no test the horse owner can run on his feed, Beine said, but if a horse is showing abnormal neurological signs, pull the feed and have it checked for fumonisin. "Were telling the vets this could be a possible problem especially if there was a negative West Nile Virus test," said Beine. Beine said his lab will routinely monitor corn feed for fumonisin contamination.