DELAWARE - Delaware’s Office of the State Veterinarian is alerting people in Kent County and surrounding areas after multiple horses developed neurologic disease linked to contaminated corn-based feed.
Between April 22 and May 17, area veterinarians documented cases in horses showing signs such as lethargy, head pressing, a wobbly gait, tremors, circling and in severe cases, collapse and death. Lab testing confirmed the presence of fumonisin, a dangerous fungal toxin, in feed samples given to affected horses said a release from the Delaware Department of Agriculture.
The toxin levels found in the samples ranged from 31 to 101 parts per million, well beyond the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recommended limit of 5 ppm for fumonisin in horse feed. The toxin is produced by mold that grows on corn, especially under certain weather and storage conditions. According to the department, warm, wet weather during harvest, improper storage, insect damage and high moisture content can all contribute to the growth of mycotoxins.
The state veterinarian’s office is urging those who bought corn-based feed in April to check with their suppliers regarding possible contamination. Affected feed should be thrown away immediately, and animals should not be exposed to it.
Horses and rabbits are particularly vulnerable to fumonisin toxicity says the state office. In horses, the toxin can cause brain damage and severe neurologic symptoms. Officials stress the importance of only feeding animals species-specific, quality-assured products that have been tested for mycotoxins.
People with animal health concerns are asked to call the Delaware Department of Agriculture’s Poultry and Animal Health Section at 302-698-4500.