Nutritionist > Equine

Fumonisin
Fumonisins are found in mouldy maize and are produced by the Fusarium moniliforme. Fumonisins were first described relatively recently in 1988. the most abundant being Fumonisin B. There are three common Fumonisin B mycotoxins, FB1, FB2 and FB3. FB1 can cause equine leukoencephalomalacia ELEM (commonly called mouldy corn poisoning or hole in the head disease) in horses and once neurological clinical symptoms appear the condition will mostly be fatal. Fumonisin B1 at a concentration of 10ppm has been found to be associated with leukoencephalomalacia. The clinical signs associated with the neurological form include apathy, drowsiness, pharyngeal paralysis, blindness, circling, staggering, seizures and eventual recumbency. Death usually follows within 2-3 days. Outbreaks of ELEM occur sporadically from late autumn to early spring. Maize or corn screenings can be heavily contaminated and so should not be fed to horses at all.

Concentrations of 5ppm FB1, FB2, FB3 or higher can cause colic and even death in horses and so feed containing 5ppm should not be fed to horses.