Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Fescue-associated oedema of horses grazing on endophyte-inoculated tall fescue grass (Festuca arundinacea) pastures.
- Journal:
- Australian veterinary journal
- Year:
- 2009
- Authors:
- Bourke, C A et al.
- Affiliation:
- Orange Agricultural Institute · United Kingdom
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A new type of poisoning called equine fescue edema has been identified in horses that graze on certain types of tall fescue grass. Horses affected by this condition showed signs of eating less than usual, depression, and swelling under the skin in areas like the head, neck, chest, and abdomen. Blood tests revealed that these horses had very low levels of a protein called albumin. This issue has impacted 48 out of 56 horses across six farms in different parts of Australia, and sadly, four horses have died. Researchers believe that a substance produced by a specific type of grass fungus may be causing this problem.
Abstract
A new form of toxicity called equine fescue oedema is described. The clinical signs included inappetence, depression, and subcutaneous oedema of the head, neck, chest and abdomen. Affected horses had very low plasma albumin values. The toxicity affected 48 of 56 horses on six farms in different states of Australia, and 4 horses have died. All horses were grazing pastures that had been sown with varieties of Mediterranean tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) that carry the endophyte known as Max P or Max Q. It is proposed that a pyrrolizidine alkaloid, N-acetyl norloline, which is produced by the Max P endophyte, may be responsible for this new toxicity in horses.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19930166/