Leukogram and Platelet Values of Experimental Ovines Tested With Buds of Bracken Fern (Pteridium Aquilinum)

Abstract

Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) is an important toxic plant that causes three different forms of diseases, two chronic forms that cause digestive system and bladder tumors and an acute form that causes hemorrhagic diathesis. Cattle develop the acute form of the disease when they ingest doses above 10 g/kg a day, and hematology showed leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. There is a lack of information in the literature on the effect of the acute form of the disease caused by this plant in ovines. Here, we report the clinical and hematology parameters of two ovines that received buds of bracken fern in daily doses of 8.5 g/kg and 11.8 g/kg for 16 days and were monitored for 4 weeks after ceasing intake. During the experimental period, there was no change in clinical or hematological parameters. The parameters of the leukocyte count and platelets were normal, suggesting that the bracken fern is not toxic to the species at the doses tested, during the length of the intake period, and at the time of year the plant was harvested.