Reproduction: Abortion Investigations

Question 1

What history should be taken for abortion invesigation?

Answer 1

• Abortion incidence
• Managment group sizes- sampling
• Bull- source?
• Bio-contamination- HACCP- isolate ill, breeding bulls checked
• BVD- certified herds

Question 2

Why should vaccination complicance be checked?

Answer 2

• Incorrect intervals
• Wrong dose/route
• 1/3rd kept open for longer than a month
• Storage

Question 3

What PME can you do on farm?

Answer 3

• Crown-rump length- gestatinal age
• Thyroid gland weight
• Fractures/haemorrhages
• Fluid compartment
• Placentitis
• Liver rupture
• Meningeal haemorhage/oedema

Question 4

What can the following be sampled for in labs?
1. Spleen
2. Liver
3. Stomach contents
4. Kidney
5. Rrain
6. Eyelid

Answer 4

1. BVD
2. IBR, bacteriology
3. Bacti, salm
4. Lepto
5. Neospora
6. Ureaplasma

Also -placenta, left ventricle

Question 5

How should thyroid weight be compared go weight?

Answer 5

Thyroid weight = foetal weight /2 or 3

Question 6

How can antibodies be checked?

Answer 6

Blood or milk
* Short lived abs with vaccine
* Long lived for infection

Paired samples best

BVD, BHV

Question 6

How can antibodies be checked?

Answer 6

Blood or milk
* Short lived abs with vaccine
* Long lived for infection

Paired samples best

Bulk milk- not beef
* BVD, Lepto, IBR, Neo antibody
* BVD antigen less than 300 cows

Milk more useful if negative

BVD, BHV

Question 7

How is BVD diagnosed?

Answer 7

• Seroconvert over 3 weeks
• Detect PI in blood from 1 month
• Ear notch tissue test when tagged
• Check test- 5 blood per group
• Bulk tank PCR detection limit one in 300

Question 8

What is suggested if bulk tank Ab negative for BVD

Answer 8

Review bioscurity
Risk assess re vaccination
Quarterly monitoring

Question 9

What is suggested if bulk tank BVD positive?

Answer 9

First lactation screen
* if neg review bio, reasses vax, quarterly monitoring
* Pos- bulk tank PCR, if pos- screen groups

Check test on heifers
* Screen groups for PI

Question 10

How is campylobacter treated?

Answer 10

Systemic streptomycin
Sheath lavage- penstrep

Question 11

How is campylobacter sampled in cows?

Answer 11

Select 12 females recently identified as problem
* Vaginal mucus collection
* Detects IgA
* 7 weeks to 10m PI
* Only 50% will ever test positive

Question 12

What needs to be included in biosecurity?

Answer 12

• Added animals-young calves, pregnant females, bulls
• Managment of quarantine
• Managment of breeding animals at grass
• Managment of show and sale animals
• Visitors and equipment

Question 13

What abortive agents can result in PI calves?

Answer 13

BVD and Neospora

Question 14

What abortive agents can be vaccinated for?

Answer 14

• BVD
• Brucella
• IBR
• Lepto

Question 15

What abortive agent can be tested with tissue samples from live calves?

Answer 15

BVD

ear notch test

Question 16

When should blood samples for BVD antigen be taken?

Answer 16

Before colostrum or after 30 days

Question 17

What does quarterly bulk milk testing routinely look for?

Answer 17

Antibodies to infectious causes of abortion

Question 18

What abortive agent can be detected by PCR?

Answer 18

BVD