Abortion Flashcards
Definition of abortion
Expulsion of the fetus before full development; ma be alive or dead
Definition of stillbirth
expulsion of a dead fetus at full gestational development
How can you tell a bovine fetus was full term?
full term bovine have rupture of incisors
Embryonic death vs. fetal death
embryonic death occurs earlier in the gestational period; and may appear as infertility
Ejection of the fetus
associated with PGF2alpha release from the EM; regression of the CL; decreased progesterone
Maceration
putrefactive destruction of the fetus (fetus is chewed up); associated with endometritis; fetid odor; bacterial etiologies; emphysema
Mummification
retained fetus; progressively dehydrated; virtually sterile (no lytic organisms); viral or non-infectious etiologies; may be held indefinitely; parvovirus in porcines
twinning is the most common problem in what animal?
mare
twinning is associated with what condition?
freemartinism; can cause mummified fetus because of inadequate nutrition
If amniotic fluid is infected, what can result in the fetus?
suppurative bronchopneumonia - infected fluid getting into lungs
Campylobacter fetus var. venerealis
Transmitted venereally from prepuce/penis in bovines and leads to abortion; ED or early fetal death –> due to irregular estrus
Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus and jejuni
Occurs in ovine and leads to late term abortions; presents itself in abortion storms - 75-80% of the herd aborts at the same time; causes hepatic necrosis in the fetus
Is campylobacter zoonotic?
No
Brucella abortus
occurs more frequently in bovine via ingestion, leading to systemic infection; may infect trophoblast cells
Brucella canis
transmitted via ingestion or venereal –> causes head/neck lymphadenitis; fetus has endocarditis, penumonia, and hepatitis
Brucella ovis/melitensis (goats) is transmitted how?
venereal
Brucella suis causes what kind of lesions?
Lesions in bones and joints; and causes endometritis (whether or not sow is pregnant)
Is brucella zoonotic?
YES
Coxiella burnetti causes what in humans?
Q fever
Coxiella burnetti is most common in what animal?
Ovines and caprines
Coxiella burnetti is transmitted how? shed? lesions?
Ingestion or inhalation, shed in vaginal discharge or milk; affects intercotylednoary chorioallantois: inflammation between cotyledons - thick yellow, covered with exudate
Is codiella brunetti zoonotic?
YES
Chlamydophila abortus
occurs in ovine; transmitted orally; causes late term abortion (fetal autolysis); intercotyledonary chorioallantois: inflammation between cotyledons
Can sheep be reinfected with chlamydophila abortus?
No, they are immune to re-infection
Leptospira occurs largely in what two animals?
bovine (L. interrogans serovar hardjo) and porcine (serovar pomona)
Are there clinical signs with leptospira infection?
Often no clinical signs; localize int he kidneys; causes abortion weeks after septicemia phase in last trimester
What happens to the placenta and fetus during leptosprira infection?
Placental edema with fetal ascites (abundant peritoneal fluid, pleural fluid, and pericardial fluid) and peritonitis; advanced fetal autolysis
Is leptospira zoonotic?
YES
Is chalmydophila abortus zoonotic?
NO
In what states is foothill abortion most common?
in california and adjacent states
Etiology of foothill abortion
Borrelia-like spirochete - tick associated
Gross lesions of foothill abortion
ascites, thymic atrophy, nodular liver, lymphadenomegaly, splenomegaly
If you suspect a leptospira infection, what type of diagnostic test should you use to confirm results?
Lepto is a virus - identify via PCR
What three species does Listeria monocytogenes affect?
bovine, ovine, and caprine
Listeria monocytogenes causes abortion during which trimester? what does it do to the placenta?
last; causes placentitis
How does an animal acquire listeria monocytogenes infection?
eating spoiled silage
Listeria monocytogenes lesions in the fetus/calf?
In the CNS - brainstem (listeriosis = circling disease)
What temperatures does listeria like? how can you use this as a diagnostic?
Listeria likes cold - if you take the brain and refrigerate for a couple days, all the other bacteria will die off and this one will remain (contaminants will be suppressed)
What species does herpesvirus cause death of fetuses and neonates?
Of all species
Fetal mummification is associated with viral or bacterial agents?
viral
Akabane and Cache Valley –> Bunyaviridae
Effects ovine and other ruminants; nervous malformation, arthrogryposis
Bluetongue is caused by what family of viruses
Orbirividae
Bluetongue - Orbirividae characteristics
occurs in ovines, nervous malformation, arthrogryposis; transmitted via vectors - this tells helps us in our differential list depending on the season
Viruses can cause hydrocephalus - what is this?
fluid filling space before pushing brain out
Viruses can cause hydranencephaly - what is this?
Virus is effecting brain tissue - causes loss of brain parenchyma and results in negative space due to brain atrophy that fills up with fluid
Viruses can cause lissencephaly - what is this?
smooth brain - no gyri or sulci present
Anencephaly
no brain
Viruses can cause cerebellar hypoplasia - what clinical signs are found in an animal with cerebellar hypoplasia?
animal won’t be coordinated/can’t coordinate its movements
Arthrogryposis
neuromuscular porblem causing hyperflexion of the joints (nothing is wrong with the actual joint)
What can cause arthrogryposis?
viral infections in utero; genetic (charlae and angus cattle), teratogenic plants (tobacco)
Herpes viruses cause eosinophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies. True of False.
True
Lesions of herpes virus
necrotizing change, lymphoid necrosis of spleen/thymus, hepatic necrosis (multifocal), pulmonary necrosis (multifocal) - equine
BVD in bovine, Border disease in ovine, and hog cholera in porcine are all associated with this viral family
pestivirus
Pestiviruses can cause fetal ____ or ____
death or malformation
What is significant about day 120 of gestation in cattle?
at day 120 - the immune system defines self in cattle
What happens if cattle are infected with BVDV before day 120 of gestation?
calf defines BVD as self and won’t mount an immune problem - results in a non-cytopathic form of BVDV - and calf becomes persistently infected for is entire life; animal may be weak and undersized because virus is using calf’s machinery to replicate
What happens if cattle are infected with BVDV after day 120 of gestation?
cytopathic form in utero fetus will die
What does SMEDI stand for?
Stillbirth Mummification Embryonic Death and Infertility Syndrome
SMEDI occurs in?
pigs
What can cause SMEDI?
porcine parvovirus, PRRS (arteriveridae virus)
Porcine parvovirus results in intranuclear inclusion bodies in what organs?
liver, lung, kidney and cerebellum
PRRS causes thumps in piglets. What is thumps?
Thumps is dyspnea (difficulty breathing) - caused by interstitial pneumonia
What does PRRS do to umbilical cords?
hemorrhage in umbilical cords
Toxoplasma gondii in ovine
Protozoa that comes from cats poop - transmitted via ingestion; results in necrotic, “rice grain” pattern ON cotyledons; causes placentitis; causes leukoencephalomalacia in the fetus
Neopsora caninum in dairy cows
3-9 months gestation - no lesions; necrosis in the brain and heart with cysts (microscopically)
If a cow or horse is vaccinated, will this affect diagnostic results of her fetus after abortion?
No, because ruminants and horses have epitheliochoreal placenta and therefore there is no blood transfer between dam and fetus; ruminants and horses get maternal antibodies via colustrum AFTER birth
Tritrichomonas foetus in bovine
mild placentitis, may have severe endometritis –> pyometra; typically results in embryonic death; no fetal lesions; protozoa can be found within abomasal fluids
Fungal abortions may be associated with hematogenous spread. How does this happen?
Ruminal acidosis –> ruminal ulceration –> allows fungus to get into the blood stream and it spreads
Fungal abortions are most commonly associated with what kind of plaques on the skin?
tan, white
Most common fungus to cause abortion?
Aspergillus sp.
Fungal abortions are most common in these two animals
Bovine (hematogenous), and equine (ascending infection through cervix/cervical star)
fetal dermatitis is usually a _____ infection
fungal
Fescue toxicity is most common in what animal?
equine
Fescue toxicity results in?
agalectia, delayed parturition leading to a large fetus; thickened placenta; premature placental separation during parturition called “Red bag”; this is a hypoxic situation and can result in death. If the fetus survives parturition, it becomes hypoglycemic due to agalactia which also results in death
Nitrate toxicosis
consumption of plants high in nitrates, or contaminated water (nitrogen fertilizers); chocolate brown blood - no lesions - fetus dies
How do you diagnose toxicosis?
test nitrate levels in aqueous humor (NOT vitreous)
Goiter
Consumption of goitrogenic plants (rape, kale); iodine deficiency or excess; enlargement of thyroid glands - disruption of endocrine system; in the fetus - leads to signals coming too early or too late to initiate parturition (if too early - fetus won’t be fully developed, if too late fetus will be too large, and dystocia - difficult delivery)
Synophthalmia (cyplia) in ovines is caused by what?
Veratrum californicum
Synophthalmia in ovines only occurs via ingestion by the dam between which days of gestation?
13-15
Schistosomas reflexus
fetus is born inside out (don’t confuse with situs inversus which is when visceral organs are on opposite sides)
Amorphous globosus
“fetal monster” - not well formed - big ball of hair
Torsion of the umbilical cord can be associated with abortion and happens commonly in which animal?
equines (fetus becomes white/blue)
