The present study was conducted to investigate the etiology of sudden clinical manifestations and some mortalities in a large farm used for breeding of Arabian horses. The most prevalent symptoms were severe colic, distention, predominant depression, watery diarrhea with fetid odour, severe congestion of mucous membranes and excessive sweating. Affected animals were arched back with unpleasant odour of respiration. Some animals exhibited laminitis and other showed hemiplegia. Some of the affected animals died within one week of the onset of symptoms. The history of the case was associated the onset of the symptoms with the entrance of new feed lots of barley . Samples were collected from barley and associated the onset of the symptoms' with the entrance of new feed lots of barley. Samples were collected from barley and subjected for mycological examination where some mycotoxin producing fungi e.g Aspergillus species (A. Flavus; A. Parasiticus; A. Ochracious) and Fusirum species were isolated and identified. The levels of some mycotoxins e.g aflatoxins (B1; B2; G1; G2; M1) ; ochratoxin A; Zearalenone and T2 toxin were estimated in barley and tissues of dead animals. Immunological change revealed a degree of immunosuppresion in affected animals associated with hematological change and and a significant decrease in alfa α 1 and gamma globin. Histopathological examinations revealed congestion, hemorrhage , degeneration and necrosis with mononuclear inflammatory cellular infiltration in liver, kidney and heart. Focal areas of malacia, perivascular hemorrhage , edema ,neuronal degeneration and gliosis were the main brain lesions. Bacteriological culture of fecal samples and intestinal content recorded salmonella, enterococci, pseudomonas and bacillus species. |
