Historic, Archive Document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. aeAwt> i e e ee aSF757 oe) - F86 2000 Fumonisin B, Mycotoxin in Figure 1 Horse Grain/Concentrate Percent of Operations by Level of Fumonisin B: in Grain/Concentrate on U.S. Horse Operations 5 or more ppm 2 ppm - less than 5 ppm A USDA study showed that grain/concentrates 0.9% 4.4% fed on 5.3 percent of horse operations had fumonisin levels above that considered safe for Detectable, but less than 2 ppm horses. 33.3% Undetectable Fumonisins are a product of fungi commonly 61.4% found in corn. Weather and insect damage can contribute to fumonisin production and improper storage is often a cause of increasing fumonisin levels that are toxic to animals. Percent Operations ppm = parts per million Of all the domestic species, horses are the most sensitive to the effects of fumonisins. Equine The biological sampling phase of the Equine '98 study leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM) is caused by was limited to 1,178 operations with three or more consumption of feed contaminated by fumonisins. While horses on January 1, 1998. On 910 of these operations, ELEM can cause liver damage, signs (loss of appetite, one grain/concentrate sample was collected from the last weakness, incoordination, moving repeatedly in circles, possible place that feed was stored before it was head pressing, depression, and blindness) primarily presented to horses. The National Veterinary Services reflect brain damage. Once signs are seen, the affected Laboratories’ (NVSL) Toxicology Laboratory in Ames, horse’s chance for survival is low. ELEM is associated Iowa, measured the levels of fumonisin B,, Bz, and B; in with a high mortality rate and can occur in outbreak those samples. Only fumonisin B; is reported here. proportions. Fumonisins Bz and B3 occur with fumonisin B; but always at lower levels. The USDA’s National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) collected data on equine health and Grain/concentrate samples for the majority of operations management practices from a representative sample of (94.7 percent) had less than 2 ppm of fumonisin By, a equine operations in 28 states’ as part of the Equine 98 level considered safe for horses (Figure 1). Just over 4 study. These operations represented about three-fourths percent had levels of 2 ppm but less than 5 ppm. While of the equine population and three-fourths of operations safe for horses, those that receive grain with these levels with equids in the U.S. Overall 2,904 operations with of fumonisin B; should also receive grain that has lower one or more equids participated in the first interview levels. Just under 1 percent of operations had from March 16 through April 10, 1998. More detailed grain/concentrate that tested 5 ppm or higher, a level at information on the study and the sampling methodology which the grain should not be fed to horses at all. is available upon request. Equine ’98 owners/operators with these levels were 1 Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. advised to discontinue feeding the Figure 2 Percent of Operations with Fumonisin B1 Levels grain/concentrate at once. Greater than 2 ppm* in Grain/Concentrate by Region From 0.1 percent of operations in the Western region to 10.5 percent in the Central region had fumonisin B; levels of 2 ppm or higher in grain/concentrate (Figure 2). The percentage of operations with fumonisin levels of at least 2 ppm during the winter (6.9 percent) was somewhat higher than in summer (4.4 percent), although this difference was not statistically significant. Results were similar Shaded states participated in across sizes of operations. the NAHMS Equine '98 Study. #4189 * ppm = parts per million Nearly 25 percent of operations that primarily fed home grown grain had fumonisin levels of 2 ppm or greater. Four percent and 3.5 percent of Figure 3 Percent of Operations with Fumonisin B: Levels operations that primarily fed grain/concentrate Greater than 2 ppm* in Grain/Concentrate bought in bags and obtained it through bulk retail by Type of Feed had levels of 2 ppm or higher. Some commercial feed producers test corn for fumonisin levels and Percent Operations reject or adjust use of corn with high levels when making horse feed. Home grown feed might not be tested. The incidence of feed with dangerous levels of fumonisin 1s dependent on the amount and quality of corn contained in the feed. Nearly 7 percent of grain/concentrate samples which contained corn had levels of 2 ppm or higher of fumonisin, while only 0.2 percent of those reported not to contain Grain/pellet mix Sweet feed Unpelleted grain Complete feed Type of Feed corn had levels of 2 ppm or higher. * ppm = parts per million #4190 Higher percentages of operations feeding Currently, the only treatment for ELEM is to prevent the grain/pellet mix (7.8 percent) and sweet feed (6.4 affected horse from eating more of the contaminated feed percent) had fumonisin B; levels of 2 ppm or higher than as soon as possible to lessen the chance of further operations feeding unpelleted grain (2.5 percent) and exposure. complete feed (0.4 percent, Figure 3). Good management practices, such as providing high quality feed concentrates, are critical in preventing For more information, contact: ELEM. Feeding high quality corn and corn-based concentrates are cost effective when grain prices are low. Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health; As grain prices rise or the supply of corn diminishes, use USDA:APHIS:VS, attn. NAHMS of poor quality corn may increase the risk of exposure to 555 South Howes fumonisins. Feed containing fungi may not appear Fort Collins, CO 80521 moldy, even when closely examined, and even if the (970) 490-8000 fungi themselves are no longer present, the feed may still NAHMSweb@usda. gov; http://www. aphis.usda. gov/vs/ceah/cahm contain dangerous levels of toxins. There are no #N321.0400 cost-effective measures available to decontaminate feed sources. iii