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

Background: Creeping indigo (Indigofera spicata) toxicosis is an emerging problem among horses in Florida and bordering states.

Objectives: 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.

Study Design: Experimental descriptive study with descriptive observational field investigation.

Effect of feed deprivation on daily water consumption in healthy horses.

Background: Measurements of water consumed by fed healthy horses might not apply to horses that are unwilling or unable to drink or are not fed for any reason.

Objective: To examine the effects of feed deprivation on voluntary water consumption compared with fed conditions.

Study Design: In vivo experiment.

Semi-quantitative assay for polyketide prymnesins isolated from Prymnesium parvum (Haptophyta) cultures.

A fluorometric assay was developed to semi-quantify co-purified polyketide prymnesins-1 and -2 (PPs) from Prymnesium parvum cultures. Evaluations performed throughout the growth cycle of 5 practical salinity unit (PSU) cultures detected relatively 8-10 × more PPs in the culture medium (exotoxins) than in cells (endotoxins). The [exotoxin] remained stable and relatively low until post-log growth, when they increased significantly.

Prymnesins: toxic metabolites of the golden alga, Prymnesium parvum Carter (Haptophyta).

Increasingly over the past century, seasonal fish kills associated with toxic blooms of Prymnesium parvum have devastated aquaculture and native fish, shellfish, and mollusk populations worldwide. Protracted blooms of P. parvum can result in major disturbances to the local ecology and extensive monetary losses.