Leucaena leucocephala toxicity in Brazilian horses

Toxicon. 2024 Mar:240:107655. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.107655. Epub 2024 Feb 19.

Abstract

Leucaena leucocephala poisoning is reported in horses in different Brazilian regions. The poisoning occurred one month after the horses were introduced into paddocks invaded by the plant or after 10 days of consuming cut Leucaena administered as the only food. Affected horses showed moderate to severe hair loss on the mane and tail, orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis with marked follicular telogenization, and hyperplasia of thyroid follicular cells. Mimosin concentration in leaves (5.5 mg/g) was determined by a new HLPC-UV method which is also reported.

Keywords: Alopecia; HLPC-UV; Horse diseases; Mimosine; Poisonous plants; Telogenization.

MeSH terms

  • Brazil
  • Fabaceae*
  • Hair
  • Mimosine*
  • Plants

Substances

  • Mimosine