title: [Alimentary intake of opioid alkaloids by horses. Hazards due to poppy-containing feeds].
abstract: Opioid alkaloids were identified in the urine of horses during an anti-doping control and in a case of intoxication. In both cases, it was suspected that the horses had ingested poppy-contaminated feed. To verify this suspicion, possible opioid alkaloid sources in Germany were identified through a literature research. Additionally, the contaminated feed was botanically and chemically analysed. The results indicated that both cases were most probably caused by the poppy in the feed. This highlights the previously underestimated risk of an intake of poppy-contaminated feed in horses. Recommendations are formulated for the prevention of positive doping-test results and intoxications by poppy-contaminated feeds in horses. Furthermore, a threshold for morphine in urine samples in competing horses is proposed.
authors.affiliation: Robert Hertzsch, Institut für Pharmakologie, Pharmazie und Toxikologie, Veterinärmedizinische Fakultät der Universität Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 39, 04103 Leipzig, E-Mail: robert.hertzsch@uni-leipzig.de.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hertzsch
authors.forename: I U
authors.initials: IU
authors.lastname: Emmerich
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Lachenmeier
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sproll
authors.forename: Y B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Monakhova
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aboling
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bachmann
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vervuert
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D004300:Doping in Sports / Q000379:methods; D006736:Horses / Q000652:urine*; D053610:Opiate Alkaloids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000652:urine*; D010207:Papaver / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D053610:Opiate Alkaloids
keywords: Morphine; doping; intoxication; opium poppy; poppy seeds