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Equine veterinary journal2021; 54(1); 145-152; doi: 10.1111/evj.13415

Plasma l-indospicine and 3-nitropropionic acid in ponies fed creeping indigo: Comparison with results from an episode of presumptive creeping indigo toxicosis.

Abstract: Creeping indigo (Indigofera spicata) toxicosis is an emerging problem among horses in Florida and bordering states. Objective: To quantify the putative toxins l-indospicine (IND) and 3-nitropropionic acid (NPA) in creeping indigo collected from multiple sites and to measure plasma toxin concentrations in ponies fed creeping indigo and horses with presumptive creeping indigo toxicosis. Methods: Experimental descriptive study with descriptive observational field investigation. Methods: Air-dried creeping indigo was assayed for IND and NPA content. Five ponies were fed chopped creeping indigo containing 1 mg/kg/day of IND and trace amounts of NPA for 5 days, then observed for 28 days. Blood samples from these ponies and from horses involved in a presumptive creeping indigo toxicosis were assayed for IND and NPA. Results: IND in creeping indigo plants was 0.4-3.5 mg/g dry matter whereas NPA was <0.01 to 0.03 mg/g. During creeping indigo feeding, clinical and laboratory signs were unchanged except for significant weight loss (median 6%, range 2%-9%; p = .04) and significant increase from baseline plasma protein concentration (median 16 g/L, range 8-25 g/L; p < .001). These changes could not definitively be ascribed to creeping indigo ingestion. Plasma IND rose to 3.9 ± 0.52 mg/L on day 6. Pharmacokinetic modelling indicated an elimination half-life of 25 days and a steady state plasma concentration of 22 mg/L. Plasma IND concentration in sick horses during an incident of creeping indigo toxicosis was approximately twice that of clinically normal pasture mates. Plasma NPA was <0.05 mg/L in all samples. Conclusions: Creeping indigo used in the feeding trial may not be representative of plants involved in creeping indigo toxicosis. There was no control group without creeping indigo in the feeding trial. Conclusions: Indospicine can be detected in blood of horses consuming creeping indigo and the toxin accumulates in tissues and clears slowly. The role of NPA in the neurological signs of this syndrome is unclear.
© 2020 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2021-02-15 PubMed ID: 33369767DOI: 10.1111/evj.13415Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article focuses on the toxic effects of creeping indigo (Indigofera spicata), specifically l-indospicine (IND) and 3-nitropropionic acid (NPA), on ponies and horses. These toxins were sampled from places where the plant was abundant and measured in ponies that consumed it and horses that experienced a toxic reaction to it.

Methods

  • The toxins from the creeping indigo plant collected from multiple locations were quantified. The toxins quantified were the l-indospicine and 3-nitropropionic acid.
  • Five ponies were then fed the chopped creeping indigo containing 1mg/kg/day of l-indospicine and trace quantities of 3-nitropropionic acid over a period of 5 days. They were then observed for 28 days post feeding.
  • Simultaneously, blood samples from these ponies and horses that showed signs of creeping indigo toxicosis were also examined for traces of these toxins.

Results

  • The results showed that l-indospicine in the creeping indigo plants ranged between 0.4-3.5 mg/g of dry matter, whereas 3-nitropropionic acid was less than 0.01 to 0.03 mg/g.
  • The ponies that were fed creeping indigo showed no clinical or laboratory changes, except for a significant weight loss, and an increase from the baseline plasma protein concentration.
  • It was challenging to directly link these changes to the ingestion of creeping indigo due to lack of a control group.
  • Post feeding, the plasma l-indospicine concentration rose to 3.9 mg/L on day 6. Further, a pharmacokinetic modelling indicated that the elimination half-life of l-indospicine was roughly 25 days, achieving a stable state of plasma concentration at 22 mg/L.
  • Observations showed that during an episode of creeping indigo toxicosis, sick horses exhibited nearly twice the plasma concentration of l-indospicine compared to the unaffected ones grazing in the same pasture.
  • The concentration of 3-nitropropionic acid was less than 0.05 mg/L across all samples.

Conclusions

  • The creeping indigo used for the feeding trials might not accurately represent the plants involved in creeping indigo toxicosis episodes. This is primarily due to the absence of a control group not consuming the plant.
  • l-Indospicine could be detected in the blood samples of horses that consumed creeping indigo, and this toxin tends to accumulate in the body and clears slowly.
  • Uncertainty surrounded the role of 3-nitropropionic acid in producing neurological signs associated with this toxicosis, due to its marginal concentration in the samples.

Cite This Article

APA
Darby S, Sanchez LC, Mallicote MF, House AM, Plummer CE, Nadruz V, Benmoha RH, Roberts SM, Derendorf H, Silva-Sanchez C, Claire J, MacKay RJ. (2021). Plasma l-indospicine and 3-nitropropionic acid in ponies fed creeping indigo: Comparison with results from an episode of presumptive creeping indigo toxicosis. Equine Vet J, 54(1), 145-152. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13415

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 54
Issue: 1
Pages: 145-152

Researcher Affiliations

Darby, Shannon
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Sanchez, L Chris
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Mallicote, Martha F
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.
House, Amanda M
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Plummer, Caryn E
  • Departments of Small and Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Nadruz, Veridiana
  • Kansas State University Veterinary Health Center, Manhattan, KS, USA.
Benmoha, Rachel H
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Roberts, Stephen M
  • Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Derendorf, Hartmut
  • Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Florida College of Pharmacy, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Silva-Sanchez, Cecilia
  • Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Claire, Jami
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.
MacKay, Robert J
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horse Diseases / chemically induced
  • Horses
  • Indigo Carmine
  • Indigofera
  • Nitro Compounds
  • Norleucine / analogs & derivatives
  • Propionates

Grant Funding

  • FLA-VME-005559 / National Institute of Food and Agriculture

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