Bovine abortion of unknown origin
Keywords: bovine, abortion, BVD, IBR, Neospora, diagnosis, retained, placenta, zoonosis
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Abortion of a bovine fetus at approximately 5 1/2 months of age (estimated on the basis of its crown rump length). Despite adequate pathological investigation, the etiology was not established. This is frustrating and extremely common; few would contest the statement that "A specific etiology is probably diagnosed in less than 50% of all cases of abortion". Major causes of abortion in cattle include Neospora bovis, Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), Listeriosis, Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), mycotic infections and others, too numerous to mention. Cattle are commonly vaccinated against BVD and IBR to prevent abortion.
Another abortion. Again, the etiology was not determined.
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This fetus was 218 days old at the time of abortion. After 150 days of pregnancy, retention of the placenta is likely and it becomes progressively more common as the duration of pregnancy increases. In this case, the placenta was firmly attached immediately after abortion (see yellow ring) and was retained for several days. During that time, her body temperature was monitored twice daily. Should the cow have become febrile, antibiotics would have been administered.
Note that the operator is wearing gloves. Although gloves are seldom if ever worn while delivering calves, it is advisable to do so after fetuses are aborted. This is because several abortifacient pathogens are zoonoses. These include B. abortus bovis, Leptospira spp, Chlamydia abortus and Listeria monocytogenes. Care should be taken to wash thoroughly after handling such cases.
