Hematological and pathological observations of chronic furazolidone poisoning in calves

Hematological and pathological observations were carried out on 4 calves affected spontaneously with chronic furazolidone poisoning. These cases were characterized by hemorrhagic diathesis with thrombocytopenia, leucocytopenia, erythrocytopenia, a prolongation of the whole blood clotting time, and an increase of the plasma fibrinogen level. The pathological examination suggested that these hematological changes might have resulted from hypoplasia or aplasia (panmyelopathy) of the bone marrow. This condition was approximately identical with that experimentally produced in calves in West Germany and Austria by giving furazolidone. Discussion was made on the mechanism of hemorrhagic diathesis in this disorder and on the hematological difference between bracken and furazolidone poisoning in cattle.