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Question 1

ABORTION IN CATTLE

Answer 1

• Abortion: Premature expulsion of the fetus, typically defined as occurring before the fetus is viable.

• Genetic Factors: Often cause early embryonic death.
• Nutritional Deficiencies: Vitamins A, E, selenium, and iron.
• Toxins: Ponderosa pine needles (isocupressic acid), locoweed (indolizidine alkaloid), broomweed, coumarins, mycotoxins, nitrates/nitrites.
• Physical Trauma: Rarely causes abortion.

1. Bluetongue:
   
   • Causative Agent: Orbivirus.
   • Symptoms: Abortion, mummification, stillbirth, CNS malformations.
   • Diagnosis: PCR, precolostral antibodies.
   • Prevention: Vaccination, vector control.
2. Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD):
   
   • Causative Agent: Pestivirus.
   • Symptoms: Embryonic death, congenital malformations, abortion.
   • Diagnosis: Virus isolation, PCR, precolostral antibodies.
   • Prevention: Vaccination, remove persistently infected animals.
3. Brucellosis:
   
   • Causative Agent: Brucella abortus.
   • Symptoms: Abortion in late gestation, placentitis.
   • Diagnosis: Serology, fluorescent antibody staining.
   • Prevention: Calfhood vaccination, test-and-slaughter.
4. Campylobacteriosis:
   
   • Causative Agent: Campylobacter fetus venerealis.
   • Symptoms: Infertility, early embryonic death, abortion.
   • Diagnosis: Darkfield examination, culture.
   • Prevention: Artificial insemination, vaccination.
5. Chlamydiosis:
   
   • Causative Agent: Chlamydophila abortus.
   • Symptoms: Abortion in late gestation, placentitis.
   • Diagnosis: Stained smears, ELISA, PCR.
   • Prevention: No vaccine for cattle.
6. Epizootic Bovine Abortion:
   
   • Causative Agent: Pajaroellobacter abortibovis.
   • Symptoms: Late-term abortion, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly.
   • Diagnosis: Histopathology, fetal IgG.
   • Prevention: Exposure to endemic areas before breeding.
7. Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR):
   
   • Causative Agent: Bovine herpesvirus 1.
   • Symptoms: Abortion at any stage, placentitis.
   • Diagnosis: Immunologic staining, virus isolation.
   • Prevention: Vaccination.
8. Leptospirosis:
   
   • Causative Agent: Leptospira spp.
   • Symptoms: Late-term abortion, icterus in fetuses.
   • Diagnosis: Fluorescent antibody staining, PCR.
   • Prevention: Vaccination, elimination of contamination sources.
9. Listeriosis:
   
   • Causative Agent: Listeria monocytogenes.
   • Symptoms: Abortion at any stage, placentitis, fetal septicemia.
   • Diagnosis: Culture from fetus or placenta.
   • Prevention: Avoiding contaminated feed.
10. Mycotic Abortion:
    
    • Causative Agents: Aspergillus, Mucor, Absidia.
    • Symptoms: Abortion from 4 months to term, placentitis.
    • Diagnosis: Presence of fungal hyphae in tissues.
    • Prevention: Avoid moldy feed.
11. Neosporosis:
    
    • Causative Agent: Neospora caninum.
    • Symptoms: Abortion at 3-6 months, fetal autolysis.
    • Diagnosis: Immunohistochemistry, PCR.
    • Prevention: Hygiene, vaccination.
12. Trichomoniasis:
    
    • Causative Agent: Tritrichomonas foetus.
    • Symptoms: Early embryonic death, placentitis.
    • Diagnosis: Culture from abomasal contents.
    • Prevention: Artificial insemination, vaccination.
13. Trueperella pyogenes:
    
    • Symptoms: Sporadic abortion, endometritis, placentitis.
    • Diagnosis: Culture from placenta or abomasal contents.
    • Prevention: No effective bacterin available.
14. Ureaplasma diversum:
    
    • Symptoms: Sporadic abortion, placentitis, stillbirths.
    • Diagnosis: Isolation from placenta, lungs, abomasal contents.
    • Prevention: No specific vaccine available.

• Akabane Virus, Parainfluenza-3 Virus, Salmonella spp, Mycoplasma spp, Histophilus somni: Causes sporadic abortions, requiring specific diagnostic and preventive measures.

For detailed information, visit the Merck Veterinary Manual - Abortion in Cattle.