Female Repro Flashcards
What gnes promote ovarian development vs testerone?
DAX-1 gene promotes ovarian development and differentiation
SRY gene coding for TDF which upregulates Sox9 expression for testicular development
Intersex
Intersex is a general, nonspecific term meaning that ambiguous genitalia are present, but does not indicate the nature or etiology of the abnormality
Sexual development disorders are categorized as:
Abnormalities of chromosomal sex
Abnormalities of gonadal sex
Abnormalities of phenotypic sex
Abnormalities of chromosomal sex
Animals with these disorders have an abnormality in the number or structure of the sex chromosomes
◦ XXY → Klinefelter
◦ XXX
◦ XO → Turner
◦ XX/XY (Chimeras and mosaics)
In general, animals with trisomy or monosomy have underdeveloped genitalia and are sterile
An example of these chromosomal sex disorders are male tortoiseshell or calico cats; they have testicular hypoplasia and are almost always infertile ( some may be XXY)
Chimeras
individuals composed of two or more cell populations each arising from different individual
Mosaics
individuals composed of two or more cell populations, but the cells originate within the same individual
What is the most common example of a chimera?
Genetic female born co-twinwithamale
Pathogenesis → vascular anastomoses between placentas allow male hormones (incl Mullerian Inhibitory Substance) and cells to cross and suppress development of the female genital system
Macroscopically, freemartins have small ovaries, blind- ended uterus, poorly developed vagina, enlarged clitoris and seminal vesicles
Maletwinisminimallyaffected
Abnormalities of gonadal sex
True hermaphrodites
How do you define them?
Ovary and testis present in the same individual
Lateral → testis one side, ovary the other
Bilateral → ovotestes both sides
Unilateral → ovotestis one side, ovary or testis on other
Ambiguous external genitalia
Rare, seen more in dogs, goats and pigs
True hermaphrodite
mix of male and female
Gilt, lateral hermaphrodite (testis one side, ovary the other)
True hermaphrodite → Ovotestis
Bilateral
Sex reversal
Sex reversal; animal in which gonadal sex does not follow chromosomal sex
Gonad is not the type corresponding to the XX or XY makeup of the individual
◦ American Cocker Spaniel
Dogs with XX sexual reversal may be XX true
hermaphrodites or XX males
◦ Polled goats (gene with Y effect close to gene for hornlessness)
pseudohermaphroditism
Abnormalities in phenotypic sex (pseudohermaphroditism)
Occur when chromosomal and gonadal sex agree, but the internal or external genitalia are ambiguous
Female pseudohermaphrodites
Often the result of iatrogenic administration of androgens or progestagens during gestation
Male pseudohermaphrodites
Due to failure of Mullerian duct regression
Persistent Mullerian Duct Syndrome in the Miniature Schnauzer
XY dog with testes- Clitoral enlargement The clitoris protrudes between the labia and is visible on the ventral floor of the vulva
Segmental aplasia of the paramesonephric ducts
DEVELOPMENTAL ANOMALIES of Phenotype Sex
Segmental aplasia of the paramesonephric ducts Failure of short or long segments of the uterine horn to
develop
Complete absence of an entire horn → uterus unicornis
Commonly found in white Shorthorn cattle → “white heifer disease” → associated with the recessive gene for white coat color
Uterus unicornis
Uterus unicornis; ovaries on both sides
Imperfect fusion of the paramesonephric ducts
Results in double vagina, double cervix, and uterus
didelphys
Uterus didelphys
double cervix
Failure of fusion of the paramesonephric ducts with the urogenital sinus
Persistence of a tissue band running across the vagina just cranial to the opening of the urethra (imperforate hymen)
Imperforate hymen
imperferate hymen
Duplication of an ovary
incidental
Ovarian hypoplasia
Results in small ovaries without follicles
Seen in Swedish Highland cattle and in other cattle and mares with chromosomal abnormalities (XXX or XO)
Bilateral ovarian hypoplasia (reproductive tract may remain infantile)
Paraovarian cysts
Cystic Graafian follicle
Cystic Graafian follicle → commonest type of cystic change
◦ Occur as a result of insufficient release of luteinizing hormone
◦ Cysts may be simple or multiple, and if they persist, can cause changes associated with prolonged estrogen stimulation
Cow→ cystic Graafian follicle
Cystic subsurface epithelial structures (SES) of the bitch
Frequently give rise to single or multiple cysts extending along ovarian surface
◦ Occasionally undergo neoplastic transformation (adenomas, and adenocarcinomas)
Ovarian carcinoma
oophoritis
Inflammation (oophoritis)
◦ Rare → tuberculosis of the peritoneal cavity ◦ In poultry → Salmonella pullorum
◦ IBR,BVD
Inflammation (oophoritis
Intrafollicular hemorrhage
◦ In mares can be quite severe
◦ In cows → manual enucleation of the corpus luteum ◦ May lead to reduced fertility
Mare → Intrafollicular hemorrhage
Cow → Periovarian hemorrhage
Epithelial tumors
Ovarian tumors
Epithelialtumors
Develop from the surface epithelium of the ovary
Frequent in dogs (40–50% of all ovarian neoplasms)
Benign and malignant forms are difficult to differentiate
Papillary cystadenomas in bitches may contribute to the appearance of ascites
Affected bitches may have cystic hyperplasia of the endometrium
Ovarian tumors
Epithelial tumors
Dysgerminoma
Dysgerminoma
Tumors of primordial germ cells of the embryonic
gonad (female counterpart of testicular seminoma) All considered malignant; up to 20% metastasize
Teratoma
Uncommon neoplasm composed of abnormal tissue derived from at least two of the three germ cell layers (endoderm, mesoderm, ectoderm)
Ovary- dysgerminoma
Ovary → Teratoma
Younger animals
features= really odd structures growing them
Granulosa cell tumor (granulosa-theca cell tumors)
Most common in horses
Most common ovarian tumor in cows and mares
May be steroidally active (estrogens or androgens)
Generally unilateral and large; may be solid, cystic or polycystic with abundant hemorrhage and necrosis
Microscopically tumor cells resemble normal granulosa cells
Call-Exner bodies are diagnostic (rosettes of granulosa cells surrounding pink proteinaceous fluid)
Malignant forms will also metastasize to other organs (especially in cats)
Granulosa cell tumor (granulosa-theca cell tumors)
granulosa cell tumors
Call-Exner bodies
Hydrosalpinx
The uterine tube is distended and filled with clear watery mucus; usually secondary to obstruction (congenital or inflammatory)
Salpingitis
Usually secondary to endometritis; may lead to
pyosalpinx and interfere with fertility
Commonly seen with Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma infections
INFLAMMATION
Pyosalpinx
Accumulation of pus in the tube following obstruction of the lumen
Ewe → Hydrosalpinx
Hydrosalpinx
Cystic Gartner’s ducts
vestigial remnants of Wolffian ducts
cystic Bartholin’s gland
vestibular glands
Cow → Cystic Gartner’s ducts
Vulval tumefaction
SWOLLEN VULVA
Physiological response to estrogens; also due to persistent hyperestrogenism (endogenous or exogenous)
In sows, often due to the estrogenic effect of zearalenone (Fusarium) in moldy grains
May lead to vaginal prolapse +/- mammary enlargement
Vulval tumefaction
Mare → rectovaginal fistula
Inflammation of vagina and vulva
Associated with trauma, likely post partum
Granular vaginitis → nodular appearance of the vaginal mucosa associated to lymphoid follicle proliferation in cattle (some cases associated with Mycoplasma or Ureaplasma infection)
Chronic vaginitis
Infectious pustular vulvovaginitis
Infectious pustular vulvovaginitis (IPV) disease of cattle caused by BHV-1 → disease is venereally transmitted and causes epithelial necrosis
Small mucosal pustules lead to erosions overlying the submucosal lymphoid follicles
Infectious pustular vulvovaginitis (IPV) disease of cattle caused by BHV-1 → disease is venereally transmitted and causes epithelial necrosis
Herpesvirus in horses (coital exanthema EHV-3) and Trypanosoma equiperdum causing “Dourine”
Leiomyoma (fibroids)
Can occur in the uterus, cervix or vagina
In dogs appear to be estrogen dependent (almost always occur in entire bitches)
begin as tumors of muscle
smooth under mucosal surface
Transmissible venereal tumor (TVT)
Transmissible venereal tumor (TVT)
Contagiousneoplasm;IHCsuggestshistiocyticorigin Tumor cells → 59 chromosomes (normal 78
chromosomes)
Macroscopically → solitary or multiple, papillary to pedunculated or multi-lobulated masses often ulcerated, inflamed and friable
Transmissible venereal tumor (TVT)
Histologically → solid sheets of large round to ovoid cells; moderate to scant pale eosinophilic finely granular, often vacuolated or clear cytoplasm
THESE CAN BE ANYWHERE- ORAL CAVITY, SQ
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)
Occurs mostly in farm animals, especially those lacking pigment on vulvar skin
Melanoma and melanocytoma
Particular in white mares, under the form of large ulcerated nodules, located in the vulva or the perineum
Torsion
Most commonly occurs in enlarged uterus (pregnancy, pyometra or mucometra)
May result in circulatory embarrassment, death of the fetus, and/or uterine rupture
Accounts for 5-10% of serious cases of dystocia in mares
Unilateral uterine torsion
Uterine prolapse
Common in ruminants
Causes →
Uterine hypotony Prolonged dystocia Retained placenta Hypocalcemia
Hyperestrogenism
May be followed by congestion, edema, hemorrhage, necrosis, gangrene and sepsis
Uterine prolapse
who is uterine prolapse common in?
Large animal
Uterine rupture
From trauma at parturition, iatrogenic or spontaneous; can lead to fatal hemorrhage, perimetritis and peritonitis
Uterine rupture
Rupture of the uterine artery
Occurs in mares and results in death from exsanguination
Ruptured uterine artery
Endometrial hyperplasia
Most common in the bitch and involves cystic distention of endometrial glands
Ifendometrialsecretionsaccumulate,infectionmayfollow (cystic endometrial hyperplasia - pyometra syndrome)
Often due to prolonged hyperestrogenism (farm animals) or excess progesterone (from persistent CL) with estrogen priming (dogs, cats)
Estrogen sources include → ◦ Cystic ovarian follicles
◦ Granulosa cell tumors
◦ Estrogenic pastures
◦ Zearalenone (and other mycotoxins)
Lesions can become cystic and may lead to pyometra
Estrogen binds to estrogen receptors in endometrium synthesis of intracellular progesterone receptors progesterone immunosuppresses, providing a suitable environment for bacteria to grow and cause pyometra
Endometrial hyperplasia . Cystic endometrial hyperplasia
Cystic endometrial hyperplasia
Adenomyosis
Presence of endometrial glands and stroma between the muscle bundles of the myometrium
Adenomycosis
Endometriosis (ectopic endometrial glands)
Actively growing endometrial tissues are explanted to aberrant sites within and outside the uterus
Endometriosis in a non-human primate
Subinvolution of placental sites
Occur in the bitch
Manifested by prolonged bloody vaginal discharge
postpartum
Placental sites appear as multiple segmental thickenings of uterine horns
Subinvolution of placental sites
Subinvolution of placental sites
Multiple segmental thickenings visible from the serosal surface Endometrium is hemorrhagic and thickened
Placental sites are raised, rough, gray-brown plaques
Uterine lumen contains small amounts of serosanguinous fluid Endometrium between sites is normal
Hydrometra and mucometra
Accumulation of thin or viscid fluid in the uterus ( 2nd to endometrial hyperplasia or congenital obstruction)
Hydrometra
Endometritis
inflammation of endometrium only
Metritis:
inflammation of all layers of uterine wall
Perimetritis
inflammation extending to tissues surrounding uterus
Pyometria
accumulations of pus in the lumen of the uterus
Metritis, Endometritis, Perimetritis
The normal nonpregnant uterus is highly resistant to infection; resistance is greatly reduced during pregnancy and under the influence of progesterone
Resistance is low postpartum, especially following dystocia, retained placenta, or slow involution
Most uterine infections start as endometritis and may or may not progress to metritis, perimetritis or pyometra, all of which impact fertility
Uterus: diffuse fibrinosuppurative metritis
Contagious equine metritis (CEM)
Venereal disease of mares caused by Taylorella equigenitalis (G-)
Clinical disease is manifested by temporary infertility and mild to moderate inflammation of the endometrium; stallions transmit the organism but don’t develop clinical disease
REPORTABLE
Contagious equine metritis (CEM)
Pyometra
Acute or chronic suppurative inflammation characterized by accumulation of pus in the uterine lumen; usually secondary to endometritis
Pyometra
Pyometra in bitches
Characteristically affects older animals (especially those that are not bred)
Condition most often develops a few weeks after estrus; animals are depressed and anorexic, frequently vomit and have polyuria and polydipsia, usually accompanied by a vaginal discharge
Pyometra
What impacts the pus in a pyometra?
The amount of pus varies with the duration and type of bacteria involved
Extragenital lesions in dogs Bone marrow depression and anemia Marked EMH in spleen and liver Marked leucocytosis
Immune complex glomerulonephritis
What species are endometrial biopsy?
Most commonly used in equine theriogenology-ONLY
The evaluation system is based on identification and
scoring of 4 microscopic lesions →
Inflammation
Dilation of lymphatics
Loss of gland
s Fibrosis
Rabbit. Uterine adenocarcinoma with pulmonary metastases
Lymphosarcoma in cows is the most common encountered metastatic neoplasm (BLV-positive cows)
Uterine lymphosarcoma
Leiomyomas in bitches
Mammary gland- natural defense mechanisms
Mechanica lbarrier(teatorificeandcanal)
Presence of bactericidal compounds on the surface of
the teat canal
Humoral factors in milk (lactoferrin, opsonins, immunoglobulins)
Cellularfactors(neutrophilsandmacrophages)
Mastitis
Most costly disease in dairy herds
Inflammation of the mammary gland is usually due to infectious agents (mainly bacteria, some fungi) that gain access through the teat canal
Hematogenous and percutaneous routes rarely occur
Peak occurrence is shortly after calving and in the drying-off period when milk stagnates in the udder
Types of mastitis
Contagious
◦ Streptococcus agalactiae ◦ Staphylococcus aureus
◦ Mycoplasma spp
Environmental
◦ Coliforms (E. coli, etc)
◦ Environmental streptococci
Others
◦ Other bacteria, fungi, viruses
Streptococcus agalactiae
Specific, contagious mastitis of ruminants; entry is through the teat canal
Healing is characteristically by fibrosis; sequel → atrophy of quarters
Not a systemic sickness
Staphylococcus aureus
Acute inflammation due to α-toxin; may be peracute and fulminating or milder or more chronic
Abscesses, necrosis, gangrene in cattle
SYSTEMIC SICKNESS
Mycoplasma bovis
Cattle and sheep
Galactogenic and hematogenous routes
Sudden onset of agalactia, involvement of all 4 quarters, a precipitous drop in milk production, severe swelling of the udder, poor response to therapy and lack of obvious signs of systemic illness
not systemic
Staphylococcus aureus
Some strains elaborate an α-toxin that causes gangrenous staphylococcal mastitis. The toxin causes vasoconstriction and ischemia to the udder resulting in gangrene
Mycoplasmal mastitis
Head tilt in a calf with Mycoplasma otitis
Coliform mastitis
Poor hygeine
Organisms are ubiquitous (“environmental mastitis”) → infection is through the teat canal (may be associated with metritis and septicemia)
E.coli may cause an acute and often fatal disease → potent endotoxin causes vascular damage leading to fluid exudates, hemorrhage, thrombosis and necrosis
The disease is most severe in newly calved cows transiently immunosuppressed
Peracute cases show systemic signs of severe toxemia
Severe coliform mastitis
Gangrenous mastitis
Granulomatous mastitis
Mycobacterium bovis, Nocardia asteroides, Cryptococcus neoformans, other Mycobacterium spp., Candida spp.
Mycobacterium bovis is likely spread hematogenously, while the others are often reported to be iatrogenic
Typical granulomas are formed and the organisms can usually be demonstrated in tissues by special stains or cultured from milk
Nocardial mastitis has been associated with neomycin infusions in dry cows
Granulomatous mastitis
Chronic inflammation of the lactiferous ducts and adjacent mammary gland has resulted in replacement of most of the gland by pyogranulomas and abscesses
Can feel the nodules in the gland
Mastitis in other species
Mastitis in the ewe and goat is usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Mannheimia haemolytica
Contagious agalactia
Primarily a disease of goats, sheep being slightly less susceptible, caused by Mycoplasma agalactiae
Lactating females and kids are particularly susceptible to the infection and likely to succumb in the septicemic phase of the disease
Other causes of mastitis
- Viral diseases such as
- Ovine progressive pneumonia (Maedi-Visna) • Caprine arthritis encephalitis (CAE)
- They cause diffuse interstitial mastitis that is not recognizable grossly
- Foot and Mouth disease may also cause mastitis
Mastitis associated with FMD virus is assumed to be due to secondary bacterial infections.
Mammary gland neoplasia
Mammary tumors are seen most commonly in bitches and queens and are rare in other species
Mammary fibroadenomas are common in rats
Rat Mammary fibroadenoma
What is the most common diagnosed tumor in female dogs?
One of the most commonly diagnosed tumors in female dogs
Epithelial tumors are most commonly diagnosed (>90% of all tumors), the remainder consisting of sarcomas and mixed tumors
Approximately 50% of all tumors are malignant and of these, 50% express the metastatic phenotype
cats- these are usually malignant
dogs-benign
If a female dog has mixed mammary tumors will spaying them will or will not stop the tumors?
WILL NOT
Benign mammary tumors
Adenoma
Simple → Proliferation of well-differentiated luminal epithelial cells
Complex → Mixed proliferation of secretory epithelial cells myoepithelial cells
Fibroadenoma
◦ Mixture of epithelial and stromal cells
Benignmixedtumor
◦ Proliferation of glandular and mesenchymal elements
Ductpapilloma
◦ Papillomatous projections in distended ducts
benign mixed tumor
Malignant mammary tumors
Carcinoma
Osteosarcoma
◦ Mammary gland is the most common site of extraskeletal soft tissue osteosarcoma in dogs
Carcinosarcoma:
◦ Also called malignant mixed tumor; malignant epithelial and
mesenchymal components Fibrosarcoma
metastatic spread very quickly; fibrosarcoma
Prognostic factors for canine mammary tumors
Histological type
Degree of invasion (very
important!!!)
Degree of nuclear differentiation
Lymphoidcellularreactivity
Tumor size (>3 cm)
Ulceration
Inflammation/inflammatory carcinoma
Estrogen or progesterone receptor status
Clinical features associated with prognosis of canine mammary tumors
Clinical presentation
Approximately 70% of dogs have more than one mammary tumor*
Smaller tumors are more likely to be benign than larger ones
Dogs with malignant tumors are more likely to develop new tumors in other mammary glands
Tumors > 5cm in size are more likely to be malignant and more likely to show lymph node metastasis*
Lymphatic invasion and lymph node metastasis are significant prognostic factors
*sampling errors may lead to incorrect diagnosis
Feline mammary neoplasia
Third most common neoplasm in domestic cats- VERY LIKELY MALGIANANT
Classification is similar to the canine classification;
most neoplasms in cats are malignant
Most tumors are adenocarcinomas → grow rapidly and metastases are common
Staging and grading of tumors is done similarly as in dogs
Tumor size is the single most important prognostic factor in cats with mammary gland neoplasia (tumors < 2 cm in size have a better prognosis)
Feline mammary tumor
Mammary fibroadenomatous hyperplasia
“Juvenile fibroadenoma, feline mammary hypertrophy”
Benign, nonneoplastic proliferation of mammary ducts and connective tissue of young intact cats, pregnant cats, or older neutered male and female cats on prolonged progesterone therapy (megestrol acetate)
Mammary fibroadenomatous hyperplasia
Mammary fibroadenomatous hyperplasia
Histologically → lobules of branching ductal structures lined by epithelial cells surrounded by edematous myoepithelial stroma
Amniotic plaques - Foci of squamous epithelium on the internal surface of the amnion; they are commonly present on the bovine amnion during the middle trimester of gestation
INCIDENTAL!
Mineralized foci- incidential
EMBRYONIC MORTALITY AND FOETAL DEATH
RARELY SEE EMBROYO
Early embryonic losses/ mortalities occur during the early stage of gestation (delayed return to estrus)
Except for some infectious causes of infertility, it
appears that chromosomal abnormalities account for
many of these losses
Eg. Campylobacter fetus venerealis
Foeta ldeath later in development will lead to→ Abortion
Stillbirth
Mummification
Maceration
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the expulsion of a foetus prior to the time of expected viability
Stillbirth
Stillbirth is the death of the foetus in the last part of gestation during the period where it is independently viable
Mummification
The fetus is retained indefinitely and becomes dehydrated
Typically no bacterial infection to promote tissue lysis or putrefaction
Dehydration of a fetus in utero usually takes longer than 1 week to occur
Dehydration of a fetus in utero usually takes longer than 1 week to occur
Maceration
The dead fetus is retained and infected by bacteria
May be associated with dystocia or incomplete
abortion
May lead to pyometra and maternal death from peritonitis and toxemia
Uterus. Macerated fetus
Placental insufficiency
Important in the mare; may lead to fetal death, mummification or abortion
Seen in cases of:
Twinning
Endometrial fibrosis Premature placental separation Uterine body pregnancy Torsion of the umbilical cord
Placental insufficiency
Torsion-umblicial cord
Adventitial Placentation
Development of intercotyledonary placentation in cattle as a mechanism of compensation for inadequate development of placentomes
Adventitial placentation -right
normal-left
Hydramnios
Hydramnios(hydropsoftheamnion)
◦ Usually associated with malformation of the foetus (ie. facial
anomalies)
Hydroallantois
Associated with uterine disease with inadequate numbers of caruncles and the development of adventitial placentation in cattle
Incidental findings
Amniotic Plaques and Placental Mineralization Hippomanes
Present in virtually all equine placentae and are proteinaceous soft calculi, aggregated mineral and organic allantoic concrements
Yolk sac remnants and allantoic pouches are also commonly observed in mares
Hippomane
Yolk sac remnants
Infectious causes of abortion
There are a group of abortogenic agents that occur in a variety of species and include →
Brucella spp
. Chlamydophila abortus
Coxiella burnetii
Leptospira spp.
Listeria monocytogenes Salmonella spp. Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma Neospora caninum Toxoplasma gondii Herpesviruses Pestiviruses
Basic concepts concerning abortion in cattle
Criteria for submission of aborted bovine foetuses
for diagnostic evaluation →
When the abortion rate exceeds 3% (maximum tolerable abortion rate)
When a number of animals abort over a short period of time
Consider regional differences in the most common causes of abortion
Be familiar with common causes of abortion in your area!
What is the most common cause of pregnancy failure in cattle?
Infectious cause- usually bacteria/salmonella
Several lesions may be found in foetuses that may carry diagnostic significance →
Dermatitis → Mycotic abortions
Amnionitis → Ureaplasma sp
Focal necrosis in the liver or other tissues → herpesviral infections/Campylobacter
Myocarditis and myocardial necrosis → BVD, Neospora caninum, nutritional myopathy
Brain microscopic lesions- Protozoal
Placental lesions-fungal/Chlamydiae/Protozoal/Bact.
Campylobacter foetus subsp. venerealis
True genital infection and is an important cause of infertility
Early embryonic deaths at 3-4 weeks (rarely late term
abortions)
Gross placental lesions are those of intercotyledonary placentitis and necrosis of the cotyledons
Tritrichomonas foetus
Embryonic death or overt abortion can occur; pyometra can be a complication
Protozoa can be found in preputial washes, vaginal mucus and in cases of abortion, in the stomach contents of the foetus
Brucella abortus
Abortions are more common at 7-9 months
Gross lesions in the placenta are characteristic but not pathognomonic (necrotising placentitis)
Most foetuses aborted in the last half of pregnancy will show evidence of pneumonia
•Easy to culture organisms from fluid or tissues
zoonotic
Chronic placentitis. Placental lesions are not uniform; some cotyledons may appear more-or-less normal and others will be extensively necrotic
zoonotic
Brucella abortus
Salmonellosis
Salmonella dublin
Salmonella typhimurium
ZOONOTIC Antibiotic Resistance
Listeriosis
Abortions in both cattle and sheep due to L. monocytogenes → last trimester of pregnancy
Gross lesions → exudative intercotyledonary placentitis and in the foetus there may be tiny pinpoint yellow foci of necrosis in the liver the lung, myocardium, kidney, adrenal, spleen and brain.
Leptospiral abortion
Most of the abortions → last trimester of pregnancy
No placental or foetal characteristic lesions so diagnosis is dependent on
demonstrating raising antibody titres in paired sera from the dam
IFA on tissues also diagnostic
Leptospirres invade and kill the fetus which rapidly becomes autolysed
Leptospiral abortion
Ureaplasma diversum
Abortion usually occurs in the last trimester of gestation
The amnion is the most severely affected portion of the placenta
Aminoitis. There is patchy thickening with fibrosis and multifocal areas of necrosis, heamorrhage, and fibrin exudation.
Mycotic abortion in cattle
Variety of fungal species
Aspergillus fumigatus
Zygomycetes (Absidia, Mortierella, Rhizomucor, Rhizopus)
Dermatitis in the aborted foetus is often associated with mycotic abortions
Mycotic placentitis
Neospora caninum
Most abortions occur at 5-6 months of gestation (distinctive from other kinds of abortion in cattle)
No useful identifying gross lesions; bovine foetuses may be fresh, autolysed, or in early stages of mummification
N. caninum is also a cause of abortion in sheep and possibly in goats
Brainneededfordiagnosis
Organisms may be identified in focal brain lesions (focal non-suppurative encephalitis)
Lesions which are multifocal are pathogonomic for either neospora or toxoplasma.
Immunohistochemistry for definitive diagnosis
THIS IS A PATHOPNEUMONIC LESION!
What are the most important viral pathogens for viral abortion in cattle?
Bovine viral diarrhea virus and Akabane virus (AKAV) are probably the most important viral pathogens; less commonly BoHV-1 and Bluetongue virus and more recently Schmallenberg (in Europe)
What is the major cause of preg. failure in sheep?
Most are infectious
Campylobacter spp.
Campylobacter foetus subsp. foetus is an important
cause of abortion in sheep
Lesions are characterized by intercotyledonary placentitis and multifocal necrotizing hepatitis
Campylobacter spp.
Chlamydophila abortus
“Ovine enzootic abortion” and “enzootic abortion of ewes”
Important cause of in utero infections in sheep and goats resulting in abortion, stillbirth, and the birth of weak offspring
If a ewe is infected early in gestation → will abort in the same gestation; if infection occurs in late gestation → will abort during the next pregnancy
Placentallesionsacutesuppurativetochronicplacentitis
Diagnosis → organism should be demonstrated in a smear (placenta) stained by a modified ZN, Gimenez, or Giemsa method
Transmission occurs upon exposure to infected birthing fluids
“Ovine enzootic abortion”
Foci of intercotyledonary necrosis
“Ovine enzootic abortion”
Toxo
Major roleinovineabortion;thesourceofinfectionis usually infected cats
Naive ewes will develop a protective immunity but if they are pregnant, infection of the cotyledon will result in abortion
Gross placental lesions → cotyledons are bright to dark red and have numerous small soft white nodules (“strawberry-like lesions”)
Toxo
Toxo
Toxo lesions in the brain
Border disease
Border disease (hairy shaker disease)
Infection of border disease virus can result in embryonic or foetal death, abortion, mummification, dysmorphogenesis, early postnatal death, and birth of weak lambs
What are common preg. failures in goats?
PREGNANCY FAILURE IN GOATS
Similar to abortion in sheep, except that Coxiella burnetti, trauma and stress are more common causes
Other causes include Brucella melitensis, Salmonella spp. and Iodine deficiency
Coxiella burnetii (Q fever)
Very important disease, of goats and sheep; poses a
significant zoonotic risk !
Abortion tends to occur late in gestation and weak
lambs and kids may be born during an outbreak
Organisms can be demonstrated using modified Ziehl- Neelsen or Macchiavello’s stain
Gross lesions are confined to the placenta → acute
diffuse suppurative placentitis
Acute diffuse suppurative placentitis
Coxiella burnetii (Q fever)
The placenta is thickened and leathery, with multifocal to confluent areas of mineralization; exudate is copious, off-white and most obvious in the intercotyledonary region
Coxiella burnetii (Q fever)
What is the most common cause of preg. failure in mares?
Infectious and non-infectious
YOU HAVE TO SUBMIT THE PLACENTA!
Umbilical cord abnormalities
Cordshouldbebetween36-83cmlong
Longer cords are associated with foal strangulation and
necrosis of the cervical pole of the placenta
A cord that is less than 36 cm may be associated with premature separation of the placenta at the site of attachment
Umbilical cord torsion
Mare reproductive loss syndrome and late- term abortions (MRLS)
Abortion syndrome that reached epidemic proportions (Kentucky 2001-2002)
The setae (hairs) of the eastern tent caterpillar embed into the submucosa of the alimentary tract of the mare create microgranulomatous lesions → bacteria from the alimentary tract invades the circulatory system → infections are established in tissues where the immune surveillance is reduced (fetus and placenta)
Equine herpesvirus abortion in horses
EHV-1 is widespread throughout the world and causes respiratory, neurologic and generalized neonatal disease, as well as abortion
Majority of infections occur during the last 3 months of gestation and there may be prominent changes in the foetus →
◦ Fibrin cast in the trachea
◦ Interstitial pneumonia
◦ Focal necrosis in the liver
◦ Prominent lymphoid follicles in the spleen
Equine herpes virus
Foals infected with this virus in utero may be born alive at, or near, term; many of them die in the first few days with severe interstitial pneumonia and secondary bacterial septicemia
Equine herpesvirus 4 and equine viral arteritis virus may also induce abortion in mares
Diagnosis based on PCR and/or observation of inclusion bodies in lung and liver tissues
What is the cause of most of the of preg. failure in pigs?
Infectious
It is suggested that some 30-40 % of porcine abortions are primarily infectious
Opportunistic infections associated with ubiquitous microorganisms → Actinomyces pyogenes, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Aspergillus, Erysipelothrix, Pasteurella, Salmonella and Streptococcus sp.
Brucella suis
Abortion occurs between the 2-3 month of pregnancy; there is also a high incidence of stillborn and weak piglets born at term
SMEDI
Stillbirths, mummification, embryonic death and infertility complex (SMEDI)
SMEDI-type problems are caused by porcine parvovirus; less frequently enteroviruses
Classical sign of SMEDI → full-term litter consisting of small mummified foetuses ranging up to full-grown stillborn or live weakly piglets, due to progressive infection in utero; abortion rarely occurs
Brucella canis
Pregnant bitches may abort after 30 days, but most abortions occur after 50 days; there is often prolonged vaginal discharge after abortion
Protocals of abortion
Access status of foetus
Culture (stomach fluid typically)
Histopathology- best for protozoals
Serology of pleural fluid
Leptospira FAT
Tissue culture
Dam Serology- Neosporia, Salmonella
Sheep- chlmyadia and toxo- PLACENTA AND BRAIN
Bovine amorphus globosus
