does it harm more than just horses ? :
YES.
In controlled studis; besides equine; cattle, sheep, rabbits, goats, guinea pigs, and fowl have also been poisoned by this plant. Apparently swine will not eat the plant, or have avoided it in all feeding tests. (Resource for information: http://sfbfp.ifas.ufl.edu/articles/article_2013_june.shtml) Anything that consumes Indospicine can be affected. This includes first hand (the plant) OR second hand consumption. (poisoned meat)
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.
.
In controlled studis; besides equine; cattle, sheep, rabbits, goats, guinea pigs, and fowl have also been poisoned by this plant. Apparently swine will not eat the plant, or have avoided it in all feeding tests. (Resource for information: http://sfbfp.ifas.ufl.edu/articles/article_2013_june.shtml) Anything that consumes Indospicine can be affected. This includes first hand (the plant) OR second hand consumption. (poisoned meat)
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.
.
It is believed that CI is more often seen in horse pastures than in cow pastures because of how they GRAZE and how they DIGEST. Cows wrap their tongues around the grass and tear it away leaving much of it behind where as horses eat right down to the dirt again allowing CI to take over more quickly and thrive where the grass is LOW. Also a factor: Horses digestive track being less efficient than cows can help SPREAD the seeds while cattle's digestive systems break the seeds down so it is less likely to be in the manure.
It is believed that cattle and other animals with a ruminant digestive system have to eat twice as much of this weed to than other animals due to the high level of efficiency this manner of digestion provides.
It is believed that cattle and other animals with a ruminant digestive system have to eat twice as much of this weed to than other animals due to the high level of efficiency this manner of digestion provides.
