TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abortion in Cow
Abortion in Cow is the expulsion from the uterus of a living fetus before it reaches a viable age or more commonly the expulsion of dead fetus of recognizable size at any stage of gestation.
Abortion in cow is the expulsion of dead or live recognizable size fetus at any stage of gestation (45-60 days onwards to parturition).
Related terms about Abortion
Premature Birth
Premature birth is the expulsion of weak and viable fetus 15-20 days or 30 days early to the expected date of parturition and it may die shortly after birth.
Still Birth
Still birth is the expulsion of a dead fetus at the time of parturition especially in swines.
Habitual Abortion
Habitual abortion is the repeated abortions at a particular month of gestation in the same animal.
Threatened Abortion
At any stage of gestation, that animal may show the symptoms of abortion but need not abort is called threatened abortion
Early Embryonic Death
Early embryonic death is the unseen expulsion of the ova, embryos or foetuses is called early embryonic death.
Abortion in Cow
In a cow abortions occurring after fourth month of pregnancy are characterised by retention of placenta; but abortions occur before fifth month are seldom followed by retention of placenta; abortions are usually caused b agents affecting the fetus or fetal membranes or both.
Economically the abortions are of great concern to the farmer because:
- Fetus is lost.
- Prolonged period of uterine disease and infertility may follow.
- Maintenance of unproductive animal.
- If infectious, it may threatens the rest of herd.
Diseases of the fetus and pregnant uterus do not always result in fetal death. The fetus may expelled prematurely or at term and live or it may be weak and diseased and die shortly after birth. In most abortions the fetus dies in the uterus and expelled within 24-72 hrs with various degree of post-mortem changes as follows.
Incidence
In cattle herd, an incidence of abortion of more than 2-5 % should be viewed seriously and efforts are made to determine the cause and control measure to be initiated. Unfortunately 20-25 % of abortions are only yield a definite diagnosis of causative agents. A single serological test is often of questionable value. Serological testing of aborting cows at the time of abortion and 2-3 weeks later may helpful by the rise in titre value for certain infectious agent between first and second samples.
Etiology
The various agents causing abortion are broadly classified as Infectious and non infectious causes.
Infectious Causes
Bacterial causes of abortion in cow are:
- Brucellosis – Brucella abortus
- Leptospirosis – Leptospira pomona
- Listeriosis – Listeria monocytogenes
- Vibriosis – Vibrio Fetus & V. venerealis
- Tuberculosis – Mycobacterium bovis
Viral causes of abortion in cow are:
- Infectious bovine rhinotrachitis – infectious pustular vulvo vaginitis (IBR–IPV).
- Epizootic bovine abortion (EBA or Chlamydia) and Miscellaneous viruses.
Mycotic or fungal causes of abortion in cow are:
- Aspergillus and Mucorales species.
Protozoal causes of abortion in cow are:
- Trichomoniasis
Non Infectious Causes
- Physical causes: Douching, Infusion or AI of the pregnant animals.
- Chemical, drug and perennial broom: Nitrates, chlorinated napthalenes, arsenic, locoweeds, poisonous plants, weed, pine needles.
- Genetic or Chromosomal: Certain defects of the embryo or fetus.
- Nutritional: Starvation, malnutrition, Vitamin A deficiency, Iodine deficiency.
- Hormonal: Estrogen, glycocorticoids, progesterone deficiency.
- Miscellaneous: Twinning, allergic and anaphylactic reactions, tumors etc.
Diagnosis & Treatment
Diagnosis and treatment of abortion case is made by affected disease/causes according.
