Pteridium aquilinum poisoning in cattle in Jujuy, Argentina

The clinical signs, haematological data, anatomical and histopathological lesions and epidemiology of the disease known regionally as "Meada de sangre" or "Mal de orina" in cattle in Jujuy are described. The presence of Ptakiloside, the main toxic substance present in Pteridium arachnoideum, and the abundant distribution of this weed in areas of full coincidence with those where the disease occurs, together with the clinical and pathological characteristics found, considering possible differential diagnoses, allows establishing an etiological relationship with the disease. It is concluded that this disease corresponds to the condition known as bovine enzootic haematuria, with inflammatory and tumour lesions of the urinary bladder, associated with neoplasia of the digestive tract caused by chronic ingestion of this fern. The recognition of this intoxication in cattle allows us to infer possible risks to human health in these areas, due to the consumption of milk and meat from animals exposed to the consumption of Pteridium spp, a situation that warrants future studies in this regard.