Infectious causes of bovine abortion during mid- to late-gestation
Introduction
Bovine veterinarians confronted by a herd abortion problem often seek assistance from a veterinary diagnostic laboratory with the capacity to perform a variety of pathology, microbiology and immunology procedures to identify the cause. Most fetuses submitted to diagnostic laboratories for a diagnostic workup are in the second or third trimester and most diagnosed cases are attributed to infectious causes. Abortion diagnosis is challenging; an etiology is identified in less than half of submissions (Table 1). The surveys listed span four decades in various areas of the United States [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6]. In these surveys, there are differences in the various infectious agents identified, which may reflect factors such as climate, production type, feeds, management practices, vaccination programs, as well as sampling and laboratory procedures available at the time. With increased knowledge and improved diagnostic procedures, new infections have emerged as important causes of abortion.
Section snippets
Abortion diagnosis protocol
Information provided with the submissions about the herd abortion problem may help identify potential causes and exclude others. Some useful information would include estimates of the previous and current abortion rate in the herd, the duration of the abortion problem, and the gestational ages of the abortions. Other useful information would be whether the aborted fetuses are fresh or autolyzed, whether the abortions are occurring in heifers, cows or both, whether there are retained placentae,
Diagnostic features of infectious causes of abortion
The following sections discuss the presentation and diagnosis of commonly diagnosed infectious causes of abortion in cattle.
Summary
Laboratory results obtained from the abortion submissions should be interpreted by the veterinarian to determine whether they provide a sufficient answer to the herd abortion problem. On occasion, aborted fetuses may present with incidental infections, have multiple infections, or the fetus submitted may not be representative of the herd problem. When laboratory testing is completed, the clinical situation and laboratory diagnosis can be compared to assess whether the abortion submission is a
References (61)
- et al.
Infectious disease causing bovine abortion and fetal loss
Vet Clin N Am Food Anim Pract
(1993) Leptospirosis as a cause of reproductive failure
Vet Clin N Am Food Anim Pract
(1994)- et al.
Ureaplasma diversum as a cause of reproductive disease in cattle
Vet Clin N Am Food Anim Pract
(1994) Mycotic bovine abortion
- et al.
Pro and contra IBR-eradication
Vet Microbiol
(2006) Viral diseases of the fetus
Reproductive consequences of infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus
Vet Clin N Am Food Anim Pract
(2004)- et al.
Laboratory diagnosis of bovine viral diarrhea virus infections
Vet Clin N Am Food Anim Pract
(2004) - et al.
Protozoal causes of reproductive failure in domestic ruminants
Vet Clin N Am Food Anim Pract
(1994) - et al.
Neosporosis in cattle
Anim Reprod Sci
(2000)
Diagnosis of bovine neosporosis (review)
Vet Parasitol
The efficiency of vertical transmission of Neospora caninum in dairy cattle analyzed by serologic techniques
Vet Parasitol
Neosporosis in dairy cattle. An update from an epidemiological perspective
Theriogenology
Serological diagnosis of Neospora caninum infection
Int J Parasitol
Bovine abortions in five northern states, 1960 to 1970: evaluation of diagnostic laboratory data
Cornell Vet
A diagnostic survey of bovine abortion and stillbirth in the northern plains states
J Am Vet Med Assoc
A survey of abortions in Vermont dairy cattle
J Am Vet Med Assoc
A survey of causes of bovine abortion occurring in the San Joaquin Valley, California
J Vet Diag Invest
Neospora-like protozoan infection as a major cause of abortion in California dairy cattle
J Am Vet Med Assoc
Etiologic agents detected in a 10-year study of bovine abortions and stillbirths
J Vet Diagn Invest
Veterinary obstetrics and genital diseases theriogenology
Observations on abortions in cattle: a comparison of pathological, microbiological and immunological findings in aborted foetuses and foetuses collected at abattoirs
Can J Comp Med
A summary of some of the pathogenic mechanisms involved in bovine abortion
Can Vet J
Bacterial agents detected in a 10-year study of bovine abortions and stillbirth
J Vet Diagn Invest
Bacterial causes of bovine infertility and abortion
Viral agents and associated lesions detected in a 10-year study of bovine abortions and stillbirths
J Vet Diagn Invest
The diagnosis of salmonella abortion in cattle with particular reference to Salmonella Dublin. A review
J Hyg (Lond)
Cited by (138)
Retrospective study of factors associated with bovine infectious abortion and perinatal mortality
2021, Preventive Veterinary MedicineEconomic Burden of Livestock Abortions in Northern Tanzania
2024, Journal of Agricultural and Applied EconomicsInfectious sporadic bovine abortions: retrospective analysis
2024, Tropical Animal Health and ProductionAbortion associated with postpartum opportunistic bacterial invasion reduces fertility and induces disturbances of reproductive hormones, hematological profile, and oxidant/antioxidant profiles in dairy cows
2023, Journal of Advanced Veterinary and Animal ResearchSeroprevalence of anti-listeriolysin O amongst aborted ewes in Nineveh province, Iraq
2023, Iraqi Journal of Veterinary Sciences