Detection of Toxicity in Ruminants Consuming Leucaena (\u3cem\u3eLeucaena leucocephala\u3c/em\u3e) Using a Urine Colorimetric Test

Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala), a productive leguminous shrub for feeding ruminant livestock, contains the toxic amino acid, mimosine which post- ingestion is converted to 3,4-DHP and 2,3-DHP, isomers of dihydroxy-pyridone. While DHP generally does not exhibit acute toxic symptoms, it has been suggested that it is an appetite suppressant that reduces animal live weight gain (Jones 1994). With no observable symptoms, subclinical toxicity is difficult to detect (Phaikaew et al. 2012). In 1982 the DHP-degrading rumen bacterium named Synergistes jonesii was introduced into Australia as a potential solution to DHP toxicity as it spreads easily throughout cattle herds grazing leucaena (Jones 1994). However, toxicity events reported since the 2003 drought suggest that the toxicity status of herds, previously understood as being protected, may have changed. This may be the result of loss of effective S. jonesii bacteria from the rumen. Widespread subclinical leucaena toxicity has since been confirmed representing a significant economic threat to the beef industry (Dalzell et al. 2012). At present the testing for toxicity requires a sophisticated chemical analysis of urine samples using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Producers, however, require a robust and reliable means to routinely test for toxicity in their herds. A colorimetric urine test protocol is available based on the colour reaction of mimosine and DHP with FeCl3 solution (Jones 1997). When this simpler colorimetric test has been used under a wide range of conditions false negatives have been reported. The aim of this study was to improve the reliability of the FeCL3 urine colour test