Greenville Business Magazine 2010 March issue : Page 22
››special business repor t The Grass Isn’t Always Greener BY STEPHANIE WISE “ Tall fescue pastures have high levels of an endophytic fungus which often results in fescue toxicosis. ” 22 GREENVILLEBUSINESSMAG.COM | MARCH 2010 F ››special ››special pecial business repor t
The Grass Isn’t Always Gre ecial business repor t
The Grass Isn’t Always Greener
BY STEPHANIE WISE
“
Tall fescue pastures
have high levels of an
endophytic fungus
which often results in
fescue toxicosis.
”
22 GREENVILLEBUSINESSMAG.COM | MARCH 2010
F
ered ered on fescue. The grass may appear greener on the other side of the white- washed fence, but in the case of lush stands of tall fescue pasture this isn’t the case. Seeing the need to determine the cause of these mortality rates and develop a solution to the problem, Dee L. Cross,Ph.D., a professor emeritus of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at Clemson, began researching possible causes to deter- mine the most effective way to reduce equine mortality rates. Equi-Tox® Pharmaceutical Research & Development was established in 1995 by Dr. Cross. According to Cross, Equi-Tox is “a research-driven pharmaceutical company which discovers and develops innovative products to improve animal and human health, directly and through partnerships.” The mission for this innovative business is to develop superior products and services using current technology and expertise as a platform. “We develop innovations and solutions that educate, prevent, detect, diagnose, treat and cure,” adds Dr. Cross.
>>special business report - The Grass Isn’t Always Greener
Stephanie Wise
For years, horse owners and veterinarians have noted significant mortality rates in expectant mares grazing on tall fescue. Foal mortality rates are an even greater concern. Studies show an 86 percent mortality rate for foals delivered on fescue.
The grass may appear greener on the other side of the white-washed fence, but in the case of lush stands of tall fescue pasture this isn’t the case. Seeing the need to determine the cause of these mortality rates and develop a solution to the problem, Dee L. Cross,Ph.D., a professor emeritus of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at Clemson, began researching possible causes to determine the most effective way to reduce equine mortality rates.
Equi-Tox® Pharmaceutical Research & Development was established in 1995 by Dr. Cross. According to Cross, Equi-Tox is “a research-driven pharmaceutical company which discovers and develops innovative products to improve animal and human health, directly and through partnerships.” The mission for this innovative business is to develop superior products and services using current technology and expertise as a platform. “We develop innovations and solutions that educate, prevent, detect, diagnose, treat and cure,” adds Dr. Cross.
In the early 1990s, Dr. Cross began researching possible causes for the high mortality rates in expectant mares and foals on tall fescue pastures. Through his research and observations of other researchers, Cross was able to determine tall fescue pastures have high levels of an endophytic fungus (Acremonium coenophialum) which often results in fescue toxicosis in equine and cattle. Mares left to graze on fescue infected with endophyte fungus (EI-fescue) have reduced fertility, prolonged gestation, oversized foals, foaling problems, thick placenta and lack of milk.
With the goal of alleviating the intense pain and suffering of fescue toxicosis in horses, cattle and other animals grazing on EI-fescue, Dr. Cross conducted a series of experiments to determine the root cause of fescue toxicosis. Findings show mycotoxins produced by the fungal endophyte living in EI-fescue were the source. New studies were conducted using domperidone, a drug that acts as a D-2 dopamine receptor antagonist. Development of this chemically synthesized product has been a blessing to horse owners across the world. Domperidone has given veterinarians and horse owners the means to save mares and foals from the needless suffering from Fescue Toxicosis.
Other methods of reducing or eliminating the affects of Fescue Toxicosis in horses, cattle and other animals were researched, but none were as effective as domperidone. Plant breeders were able to develop fungus-free fescue varieties. However, these varieties are less vigorous than EI-fescue and eventually succumb to the more hardy fungus bearing varieties of tall fescue. The fungus in tall fescue stands of grass is not visible. It grows within the cells of the tall fescue plant and can only be identified through laboratory analysis.
Attempts to utilize fungus-free fescue pastures proved to be too expensive, time labored and ineffective for horse owners. The fescue fungus has a symbiotic relationship with the grass, resulting in plants with increased resistance to parasites, more tolerant of grazing and poor soils. In the south, horse owners and veterinarians have noted drought conditions can exasperate the levels of fungus and increase the levels of toxin in tall fescue plantings.
Administered correctly, domperidone has proven to be the most effective method to eradicate Fescue Toxicosis in horses, cattle and other animals, including elephants. With tall fescue providing hay and pasture for over 700,000 horses, owners and veterinarians have a way to reduce mortality rates and eliminate the pain and suffering of horses with Fescue Toxicosis. Equi-Tox distributes Equidone (an oral gel form of domperidone) with recommendations on dosage and treatment options to veterinarians requesting the pharmaceutical.
“You can’t treat every mare the same,” says Cross. “In some instances a pasture contains other grasses, while on others it’s pure fescue. Dosage depends on the amount of fescue being eaten. The main thing is to get mares on the medication prior to foaling. Many mares are removed from fescue 15 to 30 days prior to expected foaling and started on the drug 15 days to foaling.” Cross holds 4 U.S. and several international patents on domperidone technology. Equi-Tox has funded the expensive 6 million dollar regulatory approval process to make Equidone available to veterinarians.
Asked what plans are in the future for this innovative agricultural company, Cross says Equi-Tox is developing specialty products for a wide range of species at the request of veterinarians. Equi-Tox has already developed approximately 200 specialty products, including medication for dogs and cats.
With the establishment of Equi-Tox Pharmaceutical Research & Development in 1995, there are benefits to the state’s economy. Most of the income generated through Equi-Tox® is from out of state. According to Cross, not only has the company generated a number of jobs in the upstate, but additional income benefiting the state’s economy is from other countries. Australia was just given approval for selling Equidone. “And,” says Cross “a company in England has just signed on to market the medication internationally.”
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