Hair analysis for screening horses for exposure to dietary toxic residues

Abstract

Hair analysis has been proposed and evaluated as a potential diagnostic technique to retrospectively monitor exposure to a range of environmental, dietary and other toxins including drugs, pesticides, mycotoxins, plant toxins, heavy metals and other toxic elements, such as selenium and arsenic, in humans and animals. The purpose of this review is to report and discuss, where data exists, the development and use of this technique to identify such toxic residues in equine hair. In the absence of research specific to the horse, this review draws upon comparative data in humans and other species, on hair analysis and potential dietary toxins of particular relevance in equine nutrition and feedstuffs production.