Identify / confirm if mycotoxin containing feeds have an adverse effect on the respiratory / reproductive tracts.

Avoidance / removal of such products from the diet to achieve a beneficial effect on respiratory disease and reproductive performance. 

Ongoing diagnostic work at the IEC to monitor respiratory disease in racing thoroughbreds has highlighted that ingestion of mycotoxin containing feed is associated with respiratory disease and removal of the feed is associated with an improvement in or resolution of respiratory disease.

Diagnostic work at the Irish Equine Centre has also highlighted that mycotoxin contaminated feed may have an effect on reproductive performance. In previously NDP funded projects techniques were developed to monitor the intra uterine environment and the post partum foal. The techniques will now be used to monitor possible effects of mycotoxins on the reproductive tract.

Initial work has shown that mycotoxins are widely distributed in feed. Their effect appears   to be insidious with no affect on palatability.

However under field conditions it can be difficult to ascertain what other influences are in operation, so a more controlled exposure to mycotoxins is necessary to establish their potential affects. 

Mycotoxin containing feed of known composition will be fed to horses. The respiratory and reproductive tracts will be monitored for adverse effects and compared with the controls. Blood samples will be collected and screened for haematology and clinical chemistry. BAL samples will be collected prior to and during the course of feeding.

The pregnant reproductive tract will be monitored by ultrasound prior to and during the course of feeding. Foals will be monitored at birth by clinical examination including ultrasound, haematology and clinical chemistry.