Analysis of indospicine – A cumulative natural toxin that poisons dogs

Event Details

Date:

Tuesday, 02 August 2016

Time:

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Room:

Large Seminar Room (3.142), Level 3

UQ Location:

Queensland Bioscience Precinct (St Lucia)

URL:

Event category(s):

Full Description:: QAAFI Science Seminar
Presented by Dr Mary Fletcher, Senior Research Fellow, QAAFI Centre for Animal Science

The toxicity of poisonous plants containing acute toxins is generally reasonably apparent. Cumulative, non-acute toxins are however often harder to identify and their effects can be more insidious. Indigofera linnaei is a native Australian pasture legume, which can at times be a predominant plant in some arid regions of central and northern Australia. This native plant is high in protein and palatable to livestock, but contains two toxins, the neurotoxin 3 nitropropionic acid and the cumulative toxin indospicine. Indospicine toxicosis manifests itself in two ways, acting as both a hepatotoxin (liver toxin) and secondly as a teratogen and abortifacient. In Australia, livestock consuming Indigofera linnaei are not reported to suffer from indospicine toxicity, but this cumulative toxin has gained notoriety for its ability to form persistent residues in tissues of grazing animals.