Summary: | <i>Acer pseudoplatanus</i> is a worldwide-distributed tree which contains toxins, among them hypoglycin A (HGA). This toxin is known to be responsible for poisoning in various species, including humans, equids, Père David’s deer and two-humped camels. We hypothesized that any herbivore pasturing with <i>A. pseudoplatanus</i> in their vicinity may be at risk for HGA poisoning. To test this hypothesis, we surveyed the HGA exposure from <i>A. pseudoplatanus</i> in species not yet described as being at risk. Animals in zoological parks were the major focus, as they are at high probability to be exposed to <i>A. pseudoplatanus</i> in enclosures. We also searched for a toxic metabolite of HGA (i.e., methylenecyclopropylacetyl-carnitine; MCPA-carnitine) in blood and an alteration of the acylcarnitines profile in HGA-positive animals to document the potential risk of declaring clinical signs. We describe for the first instance cases of HGA poisoning in <i>Bovidae</i>. Two gnus (<i>Connochaetes taurinus taurinus</i>) exposed to <i>A. pseudoplatanus</i> in their enclosure presented severe clinical signs, serum HGA and MCPA-carnitine and a marked modification of the acylcarnitines profile. In this study, even though all herbivores were exposed to <i>A. pseudoplatanus</i>, proximal fermenters species seemed less susceptible to HGA poisoning. Therefore, a ruminal transformation of HGA is hypothesized. Additionally, we suggest a gradual alteration of the fatty acid metabolism in case of HGA poisoning and thus the existence of subclinical cases.
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