Insights into the recent findings on Pseudopithomyces chartarum in Terceira Island, Azores: a case study

The Azores is a Portuguese archipelago, located in the North Atlantic, with a subtropical climate. Its position on the Gulf Stream makes this region ideal for year-round grass-fed cattle for milk and meat production. Dairy operations in the Azores have major importance for the islands’ economy. However, these weather conditions also favor the growth of fungi in pastureland. Among them, Pseudopithomyces chartarum, formerly called Pithomyces chartarum, is one of the fungi with enormous negative economic impact for farmers, and the dairy industry in general. As in New Zealand and other regions of the world, outbreaks of pithomycotoxicosis occur in our grazing cattle, finding the need for preventive procedures, for there is no cure for the disease. This paper provides an overview of the disease and presents recent advances regarding the environmental conditions and predictability of P. chartarum sporulation based on a 2-year study with IoT temperature and humidity sensors. It will also cover prevention strategies to minimize the impact of the disease in grazing cattle. The duration of zinc supplementation as a preventive measure was reduced by approximately 40 days per year over the course of the study, indicating a more targeted and efficient management strategy.