Field horsetail
General poisoning notes:
Field horsetail (Equisetum
arvense) is a native plant growing across Canada. This plant contains
thiaminase which causes thiamine deficiency in horses. Ruminants are not
generally affected by problems of thiamine deficiency because it is made in the
rumen. However, some cattle were reported to have symptoms. In Canada, horses
have been poisoned by ingesting field horsetail (Henderson et al. 1952, Cheeke
and Schull 1985).
Nomenclature:
Scientific Name: Equisetum arvense L.
Vernacular
name(s): field horsetail
Scientific family
name: Equisetaceae
Vernacular family
name: horsetail
Geographic Information
Alberta, British
Columbia, Labrador, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest
Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon
Territory
Notes on Poisonous plant parts:
The horsetails
have separate fertile and sterile fronds. Field horsetail has a fertile frond
that is flesh-colored and appears before the green sterile frond.
Toxic parts:
Leaves, stems
Notes on Toxic plant chemicals:
Thiaminase is an
enzyme that splits thiamine, a B vitamin, making it inactive. Thiamine is
involved in decarboxylation reactions in animal bodies. Deficiency of thiamine
leads to accumulation of pyruvate in the blood, with a resulting impairment in
energy metabolism and cellular shortage of ATP. Hay that contains horsetail at
a level of 20% or more may produce symptoms of thiamine deficiency in horses in
2-5 weeks (Cheeke and Schull 1985).
Toxic plant chemicals:
Thiaminase
Animals/Human Poisoning:
Note: When an
animal is listed without additional information, the literature (as of 1993)
contained no detailed explanation.
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