Is Infected Meat Harmful?
IT'S VERY POSSIBLE.
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.
Below (Labeled "Indospicine Abstract") is a study I found published July 13, 2015 that describes studies into the consumption of indospicine infected meat. This study stemmed from dogs becoming ill/dying in Australia. The cause was tracked back to the animals slaughtered for dog food that had been poisoned by Creeping Indigo/Indospicine.
I would assume the danger is not ONLY to dogs- but, other animals, including humans, as well. But, we do not know that for sure.
But, this definitely means that our dogs who consume birds, rabbits, squirrels or any other infected wildlife/livestock whether, in the wild, or in their dog food, are at risk. Is it possible that cooking the meat rids the infected meat of the toxin? Well, that's possible too. But, dog food is cooked... right?
CI is also known to kill more quickly from one species to another. It kills fowl almost instantly with consumption of a seed compared to several days/weeks to kill a large grazing animal like a horse. Therefore, it is also hard to assume how much would need to be consumed to be deadly to a human.
This topic remains a concern and we hope to have more definitive answers in the near future. We have conveyed our concern to the beef industry but, have not witnessed a response at this time.
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.
Below (Labeled "Indospicine Abstract") is a study I found published July 13, 2015 that describes studies into the consumption of indospicine infected meat. This study stemmed from dogs becoming ill/dying in Australia. The cause was tracked back to the animals slaughtered for dog food that had been poisoned by Creeping Indigo/Indospicine.
I would assume the danger is not ONLY to dogs- but, other animals, including humans, as well. But, we do not know that for sure.
But, this definitely means that our dogs who consume birds, rabbits, squirrels or any other infected wildlife/livestock whether, in the wild, or in their dog food, are at risk. Is it possible that cooking the meat rids the infected meat of the toxin? Well, that's possible too. But, dog food is cooked... right?
CI is also known to kill more quickly from one species to another. It kills fowl almost instantly with consumption of a seed compared to several days/weeks to kill a large grazing animal like a horse. Therefore, it is also hard to assume how much would need to be consumed to be deadly to a human.
This topic remains a concern and we hope to have more definitive answers in the near future. We have conveyed our concern to the beef industry but, have not witnessed a response at this time.