Detection of ruminal bacteria that degrade toxic dihydroxypyridine compounds produced from mimosine
Appl Environ Microbiol
; 56(3): 590-4, Mar. 1990.
Article
in English
| MedCarib
| ID: med-12542
Responsible library:
JM3.1
Localization: JM3.1; QR1.A6
ABSTRACT
Leucaena leucocephala, a tropical leguminous shrub, contains a toxic amino acid, mimosine. Successful utilization of leucaena as a ruminant forage depends on colonization of the rumen by bacteria that degrade dihydroxypyridines (DHP), which are toxic intermediates in the metabolism of mimosine. Populations in the rumina of animals in some parts of the world, however, do not include bacteria that are able to carry out this degradation. We thus describe tests for the presence of DHP degraders in ruminal populations that are based on degradation (loss) of DHP compounds from culture media. Results obtained with the tests indicate that DHP degraders were not part of microbial populations in the rumina of cattle, sheep, and goats in Iowa, while most rumen samples examined from animals from the Virgin Islands and Haiti contained DHP degraders. These results confirm and extend the findings of others about geographic limits to the distribution of these important ruminal bacteria. (AU)
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Collection:
International databases
Database:
MedCarib
Main subject:
Pyridines
/
Pyridones
/
Rumen
/
Bacteria
/
Mimosine
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
Country/Region as subject:
North America
/
Caribbean
Language:
English
Journal:
Appl Environ Microbiol
Year:
1990
Document type:
Article