In a lo-year survey started in 1980, specimens from 8,995 bovine abortions and stillbirths were submitted to the South Dakota Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory. Of these, 8,962 were suitable for some type of examination. Bacteria were determined to be the cause of 1,299 (14.49%). The 5 bacteria most commonly associated with bovine abortion or stillbirth were Actinomyces pyogenes, 378 (4.22%); Bacillus spp., 321 (3.58%); Listeria spp., 121 (1.35%); Escherichia coli, 98 (1.09%); and Leptospira interrogans, 79 (0.88%). Twelve other genera of bacteria were associated with ≤ 10 abortions or stillbirths, and 12 more species were associated with ≥ 10 abortions or stillbirths.
References
1.
AdamsCJNeffTEJacksonLL: 1979, Induction of Listeria monocytogenes infection by the consumption of Ponderosa pine needles. Infect Immun25: 117–120.
2.
AlexanderAVWalkerRLJohnsonBJ: 1992, Bovine abortions attributable to Listeria ivanovii: four cases (1988–1990). J Am Vet Med Assoc200:711–714.
BoydWLKellyMD: 1943, Isolation of Corynebacterium pyogenes from a fetus and later from the mammary gland of the dam. J Am Vet Med Assoc103:24–25.
7.
BrynerJH: 1990, Bovine abortion caused by Campylobacter fetus. In: Laboratory diagnosis of livestock abortion, ed. KirkbrideCA, 3rd ed., pp. 70–81. Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA.
8.
GrahamRHesterHRLevineND: 1939, Listerella from a premature bovine fetus. Science90:336–337.
9.
HamiltonMSHellstromI: 1977, Altered immune responses in pregnant mice. Transplantation23:423–430.
10.
KirkbrideCA: 1992, Etiologic agents detected in a IO-year study of bovine abortions and stillbirths. J Vet Diagn Invest4:175–180.
11.
KirkbrideCA: 1992, Viral agents detected in a lo-year study of bovine abortions and stillbirths. J Vet Diagn Invest4:374–379.
12.
KirkbrideCABicknellEJReedDE: 1973, A diagnostic survey of bovine abortion and stillbirth in the northern plains states. J Am Vet Med Assoc162:556–560.
13.
LowJCRentonCP: 1985, Septicaemia, encephalitis and abortion in a housed flock of sheep caused by Listeria monocytogenes type 1/2. Vet Rec116:147.
14.
OseboldJWKendrickJWNjoku-ObiA: 1960, Cattle abortion associated with natural Listeria monocytogenes infections. J Am Vet Med Assoc137:221–226.
15.
OseboldJWKendrickJWNjoku-ObiA: 1960, Abortion of cattle experimentally infected with Listeria nonocytogenes. J Am Vet Med Assoc137:227–233.
16.
PodgwaiteGDTourtellotteMEJacobsRE: 1955, Isolation of Leptospira pomona from three aborted bovine fetuses. Vet Med50: 164–165.
17.
ReggiardoCKaeberleML: 1981, Detection of bacteremia in cattle inoculated with bovine viral diarrhea virus. Am J Vet Res42:218–221.
18.
RothJAKaeberleMLGriffithRW: 1981, Effects of bovine viral diarrhea virus infection on bovine polymorphonuclear leukocyte function. Am J Vet Res42:244–250.
19.
SellS: 1987, Inflammation. In: Immunology, immunopathology, and immunity, 4th ed., pp. 293–296. Elsevier, New York, NY.
20.
SellS: 1987, Delayed hypersensitivity reactions (cell-mediated immunity). In: Immunology, immunopathology, and immunity, 4th ed., pp. 489–492. Elsevier, New York, NY.
21.
SmithIDFrostAJ: 1968, The pathogenicity to pregnant ewes of an organism of the genus Bacillus. Aust Vet J44: 17–19.
22.
SmithT: 1918, Spirilla associated with disease of the fetal membranes in cattle (infectious abortion). J Exp Med28:701–719.
23.
SulzerCRShottsEBOlsenCD: 1964, Leptospirosis due to serotype hardjo in cattle. J Am Vet Med Assoc144:888–890.
24.
SwerczekTWDonahueJM: 1990, Equine bacterial abortions. In: Laboratory diagnosis of livestock abortion, ed. KirkbrideCA, 3rd ed., pp. 229–236. Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA.
25.
WeisJSeeligerHPR: 1975, Incidence of Listeria monocytogenes in nature. Appl Microbiol30:29–32.
26.
WohlgemuthKKirkbrideCABicknellEJEllisRP: 1972, Pathogenicity of Bacillus cereus for pregnant ewes and heifers. J Am Vet Med Assoc161:1691–1695.
