E Baise1, J A Habyarimana2, H Amory3, F Boemer4, C Douny5, P Gustin2, C Marcillaud-Pitel6, F Patarin3, M Weber2, D-M Votion3. 1. Department of Animal Productions: Biostatistics, Economy and Animal Selection, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Belgium. 2. Department of Functional Sciences, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Belgium. 3. Equine Pole, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Belgium. 4. Biochemical Genetics Laboratory, CHU Sart-Tilman, University of Liege, Belgium. 5. Department of Food Sciences, Laboratory of Food Analysis, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH) - Veterinary Public Health, University of Liège, Belgium. 6. Réseau d'EpidémioSurveillance en Pathologie Equine (RESPE), Caen, France.
Abstract
REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Ingestion of sycamore seeds (Acer pseudoplatanus) is the likely source of hypoglycin A in atypical myopathy (AM) but ingestion of seedlings in spring might also contribute to intoxication. OBJECTIVES: To test for hypoglycin A in seeds and seedlings collected on pastures where AM cases were reported and compare its concentration in serum of affected and healthy horses. STUDY DESIGN: Field investigation of clinical cases. METHODS: Whenever present, samaras (the winged nuts that each contain one seed) and/or seedlings were collected from pastures of 8 AM cases and 5 unaffected horses from different premises. Two AM cases were each co-grazing with an apparently healthy horse. Acylcarnitines and hypoglycin A were quantified in blood samples of all horses involved in the study. RESULTS: Hypoglycin A was detected in serum of AM (5.47 ± 1.60 μmol/l) but not in healthy controls pasturing where A. pseudoplatanus trees were not present. However, hypoglycin A was detected at high concentrations (7.98 μmol/l) in serum of a clinically healthy horse grazing a pasture with seedlings and samaras and also in the 2 healthy horses co-grazing with AM cases (0.43 ± 0.59 μmol/l). Hypoglycin A was detected in all samples of seeds and spring seedlings of A. pseudoplatanus. CONCLUSIONS: Atypical myopathy can be associated with the ingestion of sycamore samaras and also ingestion of seedlings. Hypoglycin A can be detected in the blood of horses with no detectable clinical signs at pasture in which there is A. pseudoplatanus. Determination of hypoglycin A concentration in blood is useful for screening for exposure in suspected cases of AM.
REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Ingestion of sycamore seeds (Acer pseudoplatanus) is the likely source of hypoglycin A in atypical myopathy (AM) but ingestion of seedlings in spring might also contribute to intoxication. OBJECTIVES: To test for hypoglycin A in seeds and seedlings collected on pastures where AM cases were reported and compare its concentration in serum of affected and healthy horses. STUDY DESIGN: Field investigation of clinical cases. METHODS: Whenever present, samaras (the winged nuts that each contain one seed) and/or seedlings were collected from pastures of 8 AM cases and 5 unaffected horses from different premises. Two AM cases were each co-grazing with an apparently healthy horse. Acylcarnitines and hypoglycin A were quantified in blood samples of all horses involved in the study. RESULTS:Hypoglycin A was detected in serum of AM (5.47 ± 1.60 μmol/l) but not in healthy controls pasturing where A. pseudoplatanus trees were not present. However, hypoglycin A was detected at high concentrations (7.98 μmol/l) in serum of a clinically healthy horse grazing a pasture with seedlings and samaras and also in the 2 healthy horses co-grazing with AM cases (0.43 ± 0.59 μmol/l). Hypoglycin A was detected in all samples of seeds and spring seedlings of A. pseudoplatanus. CONCLUSIONS: Atypical myopathy can be associated with the ingestion of sycamore samaras and also ingestion of seedlings. Hypoglycin A can be detected in the blood of horses with no detectable clinical signs at pasture in which there is A. pseudoplatanus. Determination of hypoglycin A concentration in blood is useful for screening for exposure in suspected cases of AM.
Authors: Radana Karlíková; Jitka Široká; Marek Mech; David Friedecký; Hana Janečková; Lucie Mádrová; Františka Hrdinová; Zuzana Drábková; Olga Dobešová; Tomáš Adam; Petr Jahn Journal: J Vet Intern Med Date: 2018-09-14 Impact factor: 3.333