Leucaena leucocephala toxicity in Brazilian horses.

This research article examines the effects of Leucaena leucocephala poisoning in Brazilian horses, showing that it leads to hair loss, skin conditions and alterations in thyroid cells.

Leucaena leucocephala poisoning in horses

The main focus of this paper is the study of Leucaena leucocephala toxicity in horses in Brazil. The researchers found that the horses started showing signs of poisoning one month after they were allowed to graze in paddocks that had been overrun by this specific plant, or within 10 days of being fed cut Leucaena as their sole food.

• The effects of this toxicity were visible in different aspects of the horses’ health.
• There was a moderate to severe loss of hair on both the mane and the tail of the affected horses.
• Another significant impact was orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis, a condition causing an excessive growth of the horns of the skin, with marked follicular telogenization, a hair growth disorder that leads to premature hair shedding.
• The horses also suffered from hyperplasia of thyroid follicular cells, an abnormal increase in the number of cells in the thyroid gland, which can lead to a variety of health problems.

Mimosin concentration in Leucaena leucocephala

The researchers used a new HLPC-UV method to determine the concentration of a toxic compound, mimosin, in the leaves of the Leucaena leucocephala plant. The presence of this toxin and its effect on the horses’ health is a key factor in their findings.

• The leaves were found to contain a concentration of mimosin of 5.5 mg/g.
• Mimosin is known to be toxic to a variety of livestock, including horses, when consumed in sufficient amounts.
• Identifying its concentration in this particular plant can help in understanding the severity of the Leucaena leucocephala toxicity and its adverse effects on the horses’ health.

This study underlines the need for further research to understand the full scope of the negative impacts of Leucaena leucocephala on horses and other livestock and inform better livestock management practices.