nitrate intoxication due to ingestion of pigweed red-root (amaranthus retroflexus) in cattle

nitrate toxicosis associated with consumption of pigweed red-root (amaranthus retroflexus) wasdiagnosed in a small herd of cattle in the suburb of mashhad, northeastern iran. the clinical signs wereruminal tympany, incoordination, tachycardia, dyspnea, head pressing, aggressive movements and jugulardistension. seven animals including 3 young calves and 4 cows died of intoxication; other affected cattlewere treated by intravenous administration of epinephrine and ascorbic acid. no further mortality wasobserved after the treatment. one of the treated cows aborted a 6-month-old fetus more than three days afterintoxication. two samples of suspected plants were analysed for nitrate. the nitrate content of those plantswas 6.6% and 10.4% in dry matter