ABORTION

By
Dr Muhammad Mohsen Rahimoon
Abortion

 Abortion is defined as the expulsion of a dead or non-viable

fetus at any stage of pregnancy before the time of normal
parturition (late 2nd and 3rd trimester).

 Abortion in dairy cattle is commonly defined as a loss of the

fetus between the age of 42 days and approximately 260 days.

 Pregnancies lost before 42 days are usually referred to as

early embryonic deaths, whereas a calf that is born dead
between 260 days and full term is defined a stillbirth.
In short we can divide the causes of abortion into two:
1. Infectious causes
2) Non infectious causes

Non infectious causes

 Stress causes: Stress due to some systemic disease,

transport stress, environmental stress, thermal stress

due to high temperature animal loss of appetied
anorexia leading to nutritional stress.
 Nutrition cause: Deficiency of different nutrients eg:
vitamine A, D, E, selenium, copper, magnesium, and
iodine.

 Habitual abortion: The habitual abortion is due to

hormonal deficiency.

 Steroid therapy cause: Which will lead to increase the

contraction of uterus leading to abortion eg:
prednisolone
 Plant cause: Plant containing nitrates and other
poisoning may also cause to lead abortion.

 Twine pregnancy cause: Twine pregnancy is the most

common cause of abortion in mares.

 Genetic/ Chromosomal cause: Chromosomal

abnormalities are cause embryo or fetus losses.
 Physical cause: Insemination of pregnant uterus,
rupture of amniotic vesicles, trauma to embryo,
removal of CL, twisting of umbilical cord and sever
systemic disease.
 Infectious cause abortion in cattle:
Bacterial cause:

Brucellosis (Brucella abortis): abortion in last trimester.

Vibriosis (campylobacter fetus): Abortion in 3- 4 months

Leptospirosis (leptospira Pomona): Abortion in last trimester

Viral cause:
 Infectious bovine rhinotrachetis (IBR): Abortion in second

trimester.

Protozoal cause:
 Trichomoniasis (Trichomonas fetus): Abortion in first

trimester.

 Neosporosis (Neospora caninum): Abortion at 3-8 months.

Fungal cause:
 Mycoses (Aspergillus absidia): Abortion at 3-4 month
Infectious cause abortion in Sheep and Goat:

Bacterial cause:
 Brucellosis (brucella ovis,brucella melitensis):

Abortion in last trimester.

 Vibriosis (campylobacter fetus ): Abortion in last

trimester

 Listerious (listeria monocytogenes): Abortion after 3

month
Protozoal cause:
 Toxoplasma gondii: Late abortion

Infectious cause abortion in Horses:

Bacterial cause:
 Leptospira Pomona: Abortion at 7-8 month

Viral cause:
 Equine herpes virus: Abortion in last trimester
Action to be taken following abortion

 Aborting cow should be isolated

 Placenta, calf/fetus should be retained for investigation.

Later on should be disposed off by incineration or deep

burial
 Contaminated buildings, straws etc should be cleaned
THE END