Bovine Abortion

Question 1

Define: Early Embryonic Death

Answer 1

Occurs when pregnancy is lost within the first 40 days, with over 35% of cows remaining open at pregnancy checks

Question 2

Define: Abortion

Answer 2

Loss between 40 - 260 days

Question 3

Define: Stillbirth

Answer 3

Occurs when a calf is born dead at normal gestational age, with causes including asphyxia and congenital abnormalities

Question 4

Define: Weak Neonates

Answer 4

Calves less than 24h old, often classified as “stillbirth”

Question 5

What is the pathogenesis of infectious abortion?

Answer 5

Fetal death prior to 150d leads to endotoxin release without a stress response –> lysis of CL

Question 6

Tritrichomonas Fetus

Answer 6

Infertility and occasional abortion
Asymptomatic bulls carry organism
Reportable
Vaccine not effective
PCR testing

Question 7

Campylobacter Fetus

Answer 7

Infertility and sporadic abortion
Zoonotic
Vaccination

Question 8

Brucella Abortis

Answer 8

Placentitis
Abortion storms
Thickened, leathery intercotyledonary area
Rb51 vaccine
Reportable

Question 9

BVDV

Answer 9

PI animals = ear notching
Dx: serology
Vaccination

Question 10

Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis

Answer 10

Respiratory disease + conjunctivitis
Vaccination

Question 11

Leptospirosis

Answer 11

Hemoglobinuria, fetal death d/t hemolytic crisis
Serology, PCR
Vaccination

Question 12

Neospora

Answer 12

Abortion (mid-late gestation)
Persistent infection
Dogs = intermediate host
Histopathology