Abstract:

Infestation with fungi of plants used for animal feeding, and production of mycotoxins by these fungi either pre- or postharvest are a common occurrence worldwide. Adverse effects of these mycotoxins on the performance and health of livestock have been extensively studied. However, compared to other domesticated species, relatively few information is available concerning the practical relevance of mycotoxins in equine species, most notably in Middle Europe. There are several unique adverse reactions of horses towards dietary mycotoxins, with equine leukoencephalomalacia caused by fumonisins being the most notorious example. On a worldwide basis, other relevant clinical aspects of equine mycotoxicoses include neurotoxic, vasoactive or reproductive effects by ergot alkaloids and tremorgenic endophyte toxins. The mycotoxins may be ingested via pasture/hay, commercial feed preparations or plant material used as bedding. Therefore, feed control for mycotoxins is a necessary task, but it does not guarantee complete avoidance of mycotoxins. A practicable means to check the overall exposure level would be helpful, both in case of clinical disease, and to avoid subclinical or chronic effects of mycotoxins. In this paper, we address some of the most relevant mycotoxins, discuss potential target compounds as mycotoxin biomarkers and give preliminary data from our work which aims at establishing an immunochemical strategy for biomonitoring of mycotoxins.