Diagnostic Investigation of 100 Cases of Abortion in Sheep in Uruguay: 2015–2021

• DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.904786
• Publication Date: 2022-05-19T06:58:44Z
• Authors: Matías A. Dorsch; María E. Francia; Leandro R. Tana; Fabiana C. González; Andrés Cabrera; Lucía Calleros; Margarita Sanguin...; Maila Barcellos; Leticia Zarantonelli; Camila Ciuffo; Leticia Maya; Matías Castells; Santiago Mirazo; Caroline da Silva...; Ana Rabaza; Rubén D. Caffarena; Benjamín Doncel Díaz; Virginia Aráoz; Carolina Matto; Joaquín I. Armendano; Sofía Salada; Martín Fraga; Sergio Fierro; Federico Giannitti
• Keywords: Campylobacter fetus; Coxiella burnetii; Q fever; Aborted Fetus; Toxoplasmosis

The aim of this work was to identify causes abortion through laboratory investigations in sheep flocks Uruguay. One hundred cases abortion, comprising 58 fetuses, 36 fetuses with their placentas, and 6 placentas were investigated 2015-2021. Cases subjected gross microscopic pathologic examinations, microbiological serological testing for the identification including protozoal, bacterial, viral pathogens. An etiologic diagnosis determined 46 (46%) cases, 33 (33%) caused by infectious pathogens, as detection a pathogen along fetoplacental lesions attributable detected pathogen. Twenty-seven (27%) Toxoplasma gondii, 5 (5%) Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus, 1 (1%) an unidentified species Campylobacter. Fourteen (14%) had inflammatory and/or necrotizing compatible etiology. Although cause these not clearly identified, T. gondii 4 opportunistic bacteria (Bacillus licheniformis, Streptococcus sp.) isolated 2 bovine diarrhea virus subtype i (BVDV-1i) another. jejuni identified severely autolyzed, mummified fetus. BVDV-2b incidentally one toxoplasmosis. Microscopic agglutination test revealed antibodies against ≥1 Leptospira serovars 15/63 (23.8%) fetuses; however, combination qPCR, culture, fluorescent antibody nor immunohistochemistry. Neospora caninum, Chlamydia abortus, pecorum, Coxiella burnetii border disease any analyzed cases. Death attributed dystocia 13 (13%) delivered 8 sheep, mostly from highly prolific flock. Congenital malformations inferior prognathism, focal hepatic cyst, enterohepatic agenesis each, latter being only considered incompatible postnatal life. Toxoplasmosis, campylobacteriosis main fetal losses. Despite relatively low overall success rate establishing diagnosis, systematic workup is value enables zoonotic pathogens surveillance.