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Nina's Warriors (Creeping Indigo Resource)
  • Our Story
  • About Creeping Indigo
    • The Leaves
    • The Toxins
    • The Root
    • The Flower
    • The Vines
    • The Seed Pods
    • CI Photo Gallery
  • Symptoms of CI Poisoning
  • What States Are Affected?
  • How Do You Kill CI?
    • Tips For Prevention
  • USA History of Creeping Indigo
  • CI In The News!
    • Help Share Awareness!
  • Events and Seminars
  • Creeping Indigo Tracking Map
  • FAQ
    • When is CI Most Dangerous?
    • Is it Palatable?
    • How Much Is Poisonous?
    • Is Infected Meat Harmful?
    • Found in Lush Grass?
    • Why Suddenly an Issue?
    • How Does It Spread?
    • Could it be in Hay?
    • Harms More Than Horses?
    • Would A Detox Help?
    • Where Is It From?
    • How Do I Mark The Map?
    • Don't Animals Avoid It?
    • Where Does it Grow?
    • Can I Prevent CI?
    • What Does it Look Like?
    • What Part of CI is Toxic?
    • Overgrazed Pastures Only?
    • Are Well Fed Horses at Risk?
    • What Makes it So Deadly?
    • Why Often Near Roadways?
    • Why Aren't More Cattle Sick?
    • Can it Survive Cold Weather?
    • Never Hurt Them Before?
    • How Can I Help?
  • What States Are Affected?

Are well fed horses at risk ? :

Creeping Indigo is VERY PALATABLE to our animals. Actually, MANY have shown to PREFER it over the taste of regular grass. Especially, in the fall when the grass begins to die and lack flavor. CI remains green and delicious and actually, seeds most in the Fall. 

That is what makes THE DEADLY DIFFERENCE with this weed. Many other weeds are not a risk for well fed and cared for animals.. But, CI is.

Also, CI's toxicity SPIKES when it is STRESSED- either by cold snap, drought etc. So, while your horses may have survived last year with access to the weed... THIS YEAR could be different. GET RID OF IT! It's not worth the gamble!

Creeping Indigo contains two toxins:

3-nitropropionate (3-NPA) - A highly toxic compound, produced by the plant primarily as defense against destruction by herbivores. The toxin is a potent and irreversible inhibitor of mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase, a key enzyme in transforming glucose and oxygen into useable energy. Nerve cells are extremely vulnerable to energy deprivation, thus accounting for the early and prominent neurologic signs seen with all types of 3-NPA toxicity. Because it is metabolized quickly, it is unlikely to be found in the serum of affected animals.

Indospicine - A non-protein amino acid. It is toxic to the liver because of antagonism to the essential amino acid arginine, with which it competes. It is a CUMULATIVE toxin meaning: it builds in their system over a LIFETIME and persists, even after, removal from the weed. One of its principal toxic actions is inhibition of nitric oxide synthase, an action likely associated with the development of corneal edema and ulceration of mucous membranes. Although horses are relatively resistant to the liver damaging effects of this toxin, it persists in the tissues of horses dying or killed with the disease and these tissues are potentially toxic. Indospicine CAN BE detected in the serum of affected animals however, that test is not currently included in U.S. toxicology panels.

How much has to be consumed in order to cause illness has not yet been studied and or published.
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UF Seminar Audio Recording
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