RECENT ACUTE AND SUBACUTE MYCOTOXICOSES RECOGNIZED IN FRANCE

Successful investigation and prevention of mycotoxic problems requires close collaboration between scientists from several disciplines rangi ng from agronomists and technologists required during production of fo od and feeds, to toxicologists and pathologists examining the effects of mycotoxins on animals and man. Zootoxic metabolites following funga l infection result from four general mechanisms: (i) secondary fungal metabolism (mycotoxins, eg, aflatoxins); (ii) bioconversion of vegetal compounds (eg, dicoumarol); (iii) plant reactions (phytoalexins, eg, coumestrol); and (iv) plant-fungus associations (endophytes, eg, Acrem onium/Festuca). In reported pathologic field cases, close cooperation through a selected veterinary network has allowed diagnosis of acute a nd subacute mycotoxicoses in France. Natural stachybotryotoxicosis may not be limited only to cold climates, but may also occur in mild and warm ones (eg, south west of France, Morocco). A considerable variatio n was observed in symptoms and lesions depending on toxin levels, rang ing from a poor performance in a horse race to a general haemorrhagic syndrome. Several cases of acute equine leucoencephalomalacia, charact erized by pathognomonic lesions and recently supported by fumonisin an alysis, have been diagnosed in the southern part of France and other c ountries (eg, New Caledonia and the Ivory Coast). Facial eczema in she ep is endemic in the Basque country, as a result of specific bioclimat ic and zootechnic conditions. Reproductive disorders in sheep, cattle, goats and rabbits have been associated with high levels of coumestrol in alfalfa, clover and their derivatives. A few cases of fescue foot disease, associated with the endophyte Acremonium, have been diagnosed recently. In addition, several nervous disorders may be due to unknow n mycotoxins. These acute or subacute mycotoxicoses suggest a potentia lly widespread occurrence of low level toxins and insidious asymptomat ic mycotoxicoses, and justify interdisciplinary research in order to i mprove diagnosis and preventative measures.