Bovine enzootic hematuria (BEH) is a chronic disease that has been causing great economic losses to farmers of the Caparaó microregion, southern Espírito Santo State. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of cattle naturally affected by poisoning by Pteridium aquilinum (bracken fern) with clinical hematuria between 2007 and 2008 and establish the hematologic findings of these animals. Fifty facilities were visited and the plant was observed in all of the ten evaluated municipal districts. One hundred and eighty one bovines were examined and 39 animals were sick. Among the affected cattle, 22 (56.4%) presented BEH. Affected animals were from Guaçuí, Divino de São Lourenço, Iúna, Ibatiba and Ibitirama districts. The animals had macrohematuria and the values of the hematocrit were low, ranging between 8 and 31%. The total leukometry had the mean value of 132 x 10³mm-3, showing leukocytosis. The temperature and capillary refill time were normal. Four animals (18.2%) had pale mucosal surfaces. It was noted that the BEH prevalence in the Caparaó microregion, ES, is high and there is a great necessity of new studies to reduce the economic losses caused by this disease.
diseases of cattle; bovine enzootic hematuria; Pteridium aquilinum; bracken fern; epidemiology