Abortion

History

·    How many abortions? – sporadic = neospora

·    When aborting? – late term = neospora

·    Cow systemically well? – pyrexia, nasal d/c, conjunctivitis = IBR (bovine herpes virus 2)

·    History of abortion on farm or this cow?

·    Poor conception/scanning? – decr. conception rates = brucella, lepto

·    Vaccination status?

·    Closed herd? Any new arrivals?

·    Status of bull

Investigations

·    Clinical examination of affected cows

·    Examine any aborted materials

·    Collect samples to send to lab

o  Placenta, incl. >1 cotyledon – culture (Brucella, Salmonella, fungal)

o  Foetal liver/spleen – PCR (Neospora, BVD), immunohistochemistry (IBR, BVD)

o  Foetal stomach contents – gram smear or culture (salmonella), culture (bacterial or fungal)

o  Foetal fluid (thoracic/abdominal) – ELISA (BVD ab)

·    Collect blood sample from tail vein of dam

o  Serology – Neospora

o  ELISA - Brucella

Management

·    Immediate action

o  Isolate cases and any animals with D+ - to decr. spread

o  Treat if systemically unwell – e.g. NSAIDs

o  Good hygiene and biosecurity

o  Explain zoonotic risk to farmer – all bacterial + aspergillosis

o  If suspect brucella – NOTIFY APHA

·    Long term control

o  Vaccination programme – BVD, Salmonella, Lepto

o  Maintain closed herd and test new arrivals

o  BVD: double fencing, tag and test calves, regular bulk milk screening

o  Neospora: prevent ingestion of dog faeces

Causes

·    Bacterial – all ZOONOTIC

o  Brucella abortus (epididymitis, orchitis) - NOTIFIABLE

o  Listeriosis (decr. conception rates, decr. fertility)

o  Salmonella

o  Leptospirosis

o  Bacillus

·    Viral

o  BVD

o  IBR – bovine herpes virus 2 (other CS: pyrexia, nasal d/c, milk drop, conjuncitivits)

·    Protozoa

o  Neospora (late term, sporadic cases, infected via ingestion of dog faeces, cow = IH, trans-placental spread)

·    Fungal

o  Aspergillosis – ZOONOTIC

·    Non infectious causes: genetics, nutrition, trauma, toxins, iatrogenic (dexamethasone, PGF2a)