Hematological, biochemical and urinalysis evaluations in different categories of females Nellore from farms with and without the presence of bracken fern (Pteridium arachnoideum) in pastures

Abstract

The Pteridium arachnoideum, previously classified as Pteridium aquilinum, popularly known as bracken fern, is one of the most preoccupying poisonous vegetables in several countries, including Brazil. Brazilian researchers characterized, experimentally, three clinic forms of diseases caused by bracken fern to cattle: bleeding diathesis, bovine enzootic hematuria and squamous cell carcinoma in the upper digestive tracts. In the present work were studied the hematological, biochemical and urinalysis values of three different phases of the animal development: 56 calves, 58 heifers and 55 cows from farms with similar zootechnical characteristics and with and without the presence of bracken fern. From results there was a significant fall in the values of the globular volume, hemoglobin and number of red blood cells in the calves from farms with the presence of bracken fern. However, for the group of cows and heifers there was a fall only in the number of red blood cells, compared to the group of animals from farms without the presence of bracken fern. The number of platelets was significantly superior in all of the age groups of animals from farms with bracken fern. There were no significant alterations in the leucocyte count, in both groups, indicating that there was no systemic inflammatory response in any of the three categories.