Bracken-Fern Poisoning in Horses
Table of Contents
IntroductionBracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) (Figure 1) is one of the most widespread species of vascular plants, exceeded in geographic range only by a few annual weeds (1). Bracken fern does not require high levels of water and can grow in a variety of conditions, unlike other ferns (1). Sandy soils in open woodlots, pastures and along roadsides are ideal places for sustainable growth. In monogastric (single-stomach) animals, such as horses, toxicity is related to the enzyme thiaminase (2). In ruminants, such as cattle, bone-marrow depression leads to an acute hemorrhagic syndrome (3).  Figure 1. Bracken fern can grow in a variety of conditions, unlike other ferns.
Consumption of bracken fern on pasture is usually limited by horses' preference and the abundance of other palatable plants. The majority of clinical cases are related to the feeding of poor-quality hay that contains high levels of the fern. Bracken fern becomes incorporated in the hay when it invades hayfields from adjacent bush lots and roadsides. Signs of thiamine deficiency occur when hay containing bracken fern at 10%-20%, or more, of the horse's dry-matter intake is fed for approximately 4 weeks (1). For the average 454-kg (1,000-lb) horse, 1-2 kg (2.2-4.5 lb) of bracken fern would have to be consumed each day for a minimum of a month. Clinical SignsThiamine deficiency in monogastric animals and in the horse in particular is marked by loss of condition (a general scruffy physical appearance), weight loss (initially without a loss of appetite) and slightly uncoordinated movements (4, 5). If not treated, the disease may progress to a point where the horse displays a crouching stance and a loss of muscular control (such as twitches and tremors) (4, 5). The horse may become uneasy and nervous due to its inability to control muscle movement; it may lie down and not be able to get up (1, 4). Intoxication terminates in death, following convulsions, several days to several weeks after the onset of symptoms (4). In ruminants, the acute hemorrhagic syndrome (loss of blood) is linked to the chemical ptaquiloside and chronic ingestion of bracken fern. The concentration of ptaquiloside in bracken fern is dependent on the geographic location of the plant (2). The acute hemorrhage and sudden death occurs as a result of bone-marrow depression with subsequent thrombocytopenia (the condition of having a low platelet count) and increased tendency to bleed (4). Poisonings in animals are uncommon since:
Acute poisonings are seen after periods of drought when grazing is scarce or when a field is ploughed and animals have access to the rhizomes (3). Poisonings are most evident with stabled animals and when bracken fern is a major contaminant of hay (4). TreatmentEarly identification of the symptoms is critical in the treatment of bracken-fern poisoning. If caught early, simply removing the source of the fern will lead to a full recovery. Treatment with thiamine is occasionally needed. Treatment regimes or methods vary, depending on the author. One recommendation is to administer thiamine (vitamin B1) at 500 mg-1 gm/day - on day 1 intravenously and then intramuscularly for several days (1). The best method of prevention is to maintain good pastures, eliminate bracken fern from fields and ensure that bracken fern is not present in hay. Identifying Bracken FernBracken fern, unlike other fern species, favours dry, well-drained, sandy and gravely soils, such as open woodlots, pastures and roadside environments. They are herbaceous, perennial plants that emerge from the ground as curled fiddleheads. The fiddlehead opens into a compound leaf or frond, which appears to have three major divisions due to the stem branching to expose three leaflets. Each leaflet is about 30-140 cm long, 30-100 cm broad and triangular in shape (6). Projecting from the main fronds are distinctively lobed sub-leaflets that house the spores of the fern. In the late summer, the leaflets curl under to protect the brown-coloured, reproductive spores that are characteristically present along the perimeter of the underside of each leaflet (5). Like most ferns, bracken fern has modified underground stems called rhizomes that grow laterally and from which numerous above-ground stems emerge. The rhizomes of bracken fern are black and can grow horizontally for several metres (5). These persistent rhizomes, as well as sexually produced spores, make these ferns difficult to eradicate. ControlDue to the plant's rhizomatous rooting system and its ability
to produce mass amounts of spores, control and spread of bracken fern
can be difficult. Growth can be slowed over time by regular cutting of
the mature plant or by deep ploughing (1).
Herbicide may also be an effective control if teamed with close cutting
to encourage vegetative growth before a treatment is applied (1). Ferns Commonly Found in Ontario
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