O/T Mycotoxins Study Being Conducted

January 14, 2009

Mycotoxins Study Being Conducted

Standardbred Canada - Mississauga,Ontario,Canada

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Published: January 12, 2009 2:24 pm ET

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A research survey of horse farms, under the supervision of Dr.

Trevor , is being conducting by Mortson, fourth year

student in the B.Sc. Animal Biology program in the Department of

Animal and Poultry Science at the University of Guelph.

The researchers are in the process of recruiting interested horse

farms. Hay and concentrate samples will be taken from each farm, as

well as a blood sample from one of the horses. The purpose of this

study is to identify a potential biomarker in the blood that will

allow the detection of possible early exposure to mycotoxins.

Equine mycotoxicosis is a syndrome in the horse that can be the

result of consumption of feed or forage that has been contaminated

with mycotoxins produced by molds. Mycotoxins are secondary fungal

metabolites that can cause severe, acute symptoms of disease in

animals when consumed at high levels. When consumed in relatively

low amounts over a long period of time, however, they can cause

chronic and sub-chronic toxicological conditions that may affect

subsequent equine performance and/or breeding ability.

It would be valuable, therefore, for the equine industry to be able

to identify if a horse has had an early exposure to mycotoxins

before symptoms arise. Some mycotoxin-specific biomarkers have been

identified but it is necessary to determine a more general marker

that will reflect exposure to a wide range of mycotoxins.

Each farm participating in the study will receive the results of the

analysis from their farm and will be kept informed of the progress

of the study as it is completed.

For those interested in participating or for more information please

contact:

Mortson,

mmortson@...

Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph

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