Abstract

CALDERON, Ángela et al. Ptaquiloside levels in bovine milk samples in farms of San Miguel de Bolivar, Bolivar province, Ecuador. Rev Salud Anim. [online]. 2013, vol.35, n.2, pp. 109-115. ISSN 0253-570X.

The invasion of toxic ferns for the Genus Pteridium adversely affecting bovine breeding has been reported in different agricultural regions of the world and particularly in Latin America. This genus is a potential risk to humans by the residuality showed by the toxic components of the plant in meat and milk. The aim of this study was to determine the ptaquiloside levels (Pta) in milk samples from San Miguel de Bolívar municipality, Bolívar Province, Ecuador, using high resolution liquid chromatography. Milk samples were collected from farms contaminated by the ferns Pteridium arachnoideum (Kaulf.) Maxon located in different altitudes. The results showed the presence of ptaquiloside residual levels in 82.76% of the samples analyzed, with a maximum concentration obtained from 2219.67 µg/ml and a mean concentration of 805.42 µg/ml. It was associated that high levels of infestation by the fern P. arachnoideum do not only affect animal health, but also represent a threat to public health of those rural sectors exposed to the repeated use of toxic waste in milk (ptaquiloside).

Keywords : Pteridium arachnoideu; ptaquiloside; toxic plants; bovine milk safety; HPLC.

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