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Plants Causing Toxic Myopathies.

Beatrice Sponseller1, Tim Evans2

  • 1Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, 1809 South Riverside Drive, Ames, IA 50011, USA.

The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Equine Practice
|December 27, 2023
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Certain trees like boxelder and sycamore maple contain toxins that cause seasonal pasture myopathy (SPM) or atypical myopathy (AM) in horses. These toxins inhibit energy metabolism and can be fatal, even in hay.

Keywords:
Benzofuran ketonesBoxelder and sycamore mapleCardiomyopathyHypoglycin ARayless goldenrodToxic myopathyTremetol/tremetoneWhite snakeroot

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Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Toxicology
  • Equine Medicine
  • Plant Toxicology

Background:

  • Seasonal pasture myopathy (SPM) and atypical myopathy (AM) are frequently fatal toxic myopathies in horses.
  • Boxelder and sycamore maple contain hypoglycin A (HGA), while white snakeroot and rayless goldenrod contain benzofuran ketones (BFKs).
  • These toxins are known to inhibit cellular energy metabolism, particularly fatty acid beta-oxidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize the toxins responsible for SPM and AM in horses.
  • To understand the mechanisms by which these plant toxins cause myopathy.
  • To inform preventative strategies for these toxic myopathies.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of plant samples from pastures where affected horses grazed.
  • Toxicological studies to identify and quantify causative agents like HGA and BFKs.
  • Investigation of the metabolic pathways affected by these toxins, including fatty acid beta-oxidation.

Main Results:

  • Hypoglycin A (HGA) from boxelder and sycamore maple was confirmed as a cause of SPM/AM, with its metabolite MCPA-CoA inhibiting fatty acid beta-oxidation.
  • Multiple benzofuran ketones (BFKs) from white snakeroot and rayless goldenrod were identified as inhibitors of cellular energy metabolism.
  • Toxins were found to remain active in hay and can be excreted in mare's milk.

Conclusions:

  • Plant-derived toxins, including HGA and BFKs, are the causative agents of SPM and AM in horses.
  • Inhibition of cellular energy metabolism, particularly fatty acid beta-oxidation, is the primary mechanism of toxicity.
  • Risk factors include grazing sparse pastures in the fall, and toxins pose a risk even in conserved forage and milk.