Abortion in ewes, as in cows, is not always easily diagnosed. While many of the toxins that cause abortion in cows also cause problems in ewes, others such as Veratrum californicum and kale seem unique to the ewe. The major infectious agents causing abortions in sheep are Campylobacter , Chlamydophila , Toxoplasma , Listeria , Brucella , Salmonella , border disease virus, and Cache Valley virus.
Campylobacter spp Infection (Vibriosis):
Infection with Campylobacter fetus fetus and C jejuni results in abortions in late pregnancy or stillbirths. Ewes may develop metritis after expelling the fetus. Placentitis occurs with hemorrhagic necrotic cotyledons and edematous or leathery intercotyledonary areas. The fetus is usually autolyzed, with 40% having orange-yellow necrotic foci (1-2 cm diameter) in the liver. Diagnosis relies on finding Campylobacter organisms in darkfield or fluorescent antibody preparations from abomasal or placental smears or in uterine discharge. Identification of the species involved is important because in some areas C jejuni is as common as C fetus , and some vaccines do not include C jejuni . Strict hygiene is necessary to stop an outbreak. Use of tetracyclines may help prevent exposed ewes from aborting. The disease tends to be cyclical, with epizootics occurring every 4-5 yr; therefore, vaccination programs, which help prevent outbreaks, should be consistently practiced.
Enzootic Abortion of Ewes (EAE):
Chlamydophila abortus (Chlamydia psittaci serotype 1) is the cause of EAE, which is characterized by late term abortions, stillbirths, and weak lambs. C pecorum is the cause of chlamydial arthritis and conjunctivitis of sheep. Except for Australia and New Zealand, EAE occurs worldwide and is most important in intensively managed sheep. Abortions occur during the last 2-3 wk of gestation regardless of when infection occurs, and the fetuses are fresh with minimal autolysis. There is placentitis with necrotic, reddish brown cotyledons and thickened brown intercotyledonary areas covered by exudate. Chlamydial elementary bodies can be found by examination of appropriately stained smears of the placenta or vaginal discharge, but the organisms cannot be differentiated from Coxiella burnetii , which occasionally causes abortion in sheep. Definitive diagnosis is by identification of C abortus by ELISA, fluorescent antibody staining, PCR, or isolation. Ewes seldom abort more than once, but they remain persistently infected and shed C abortus from their reproductive tract for 2-3 days before and after ovulation. Rams can be infected and transmit the organism venereally. Control consists of isolating all affected ewes and lambs and treating in-contact ewes with long-acting oxytetracycline or oral tetracycline. C abortus bacterins are available and are effective in reducing abortions. In parts of Europe, a modified live vaccine is available for use.
C abortus is zoonotic but human cases are rare. All have involved pregnant women, who developed life-threatening illness. Only in a few cases in which the fetus was delivered by cesarean section did the infant survive. Pregnant women should not work with pregnant sheep, especially if abortions are occurring.
Border Disease:
Border disease occurs worldwide and is an important cause of embryonic and fetal deaths, weak lambs, and congenital abnormalities. It is caused by a pestivirus closely related to bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus and classical swine fever (hog cholera) virus. Abortion can occur at any stage of gestation. There are no clinical signs in the dam. Live infected fetuses usually are undersized, and they often have congenital tremors and an abnormally hairy coat (hairy shaker lambs). Diagnosis is by identification of border disease virus in the placenta or fetal tissues (kidneys, lungs, spleen, thyroid glands, abomasum) by fluorescent antibody staining, virus isolation, or demonstration of precolostral antibodies. There are no vaccines available. Inactivated BVD virus vaccines are sometimes used on sheep, but their effectiveness is unproved. (See also Border Disease .)
Cache Valley Virus:
Cache Valley virus is a mosquito-transmitted cause of infertility, abortions, stillbirths, and multiple congenital abnormalities in sheep. The virus is endemic in most parts of the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Often there are epizootics affecting sheep over a wide geographic area that can include several states. The most noticeable effects are stillborn lambs and the birth of live lambs with congenital abnormalities affecting the CNS and musculoskeletal system. Hydranencephaly, hydrocephalus, cerebral and cerebellar hypoplasia, arthrogryposis, scoliosis, torticollis, and hypoplasia of skeletal muscles are common. At the time of abortion or birth the virus is usually no longer viable, and diagnosis is by demonstration of antibodies in precolostral serum or body fluids. Vaccines are not available.
Toxoplasmosis:
If ewes become infected with Toxoplasma gondii early in gestation, resorption or mummification results; if ewes contract the disease late in gestation, abortions or perinatal deaths occur. Ewes do not usually appear sick. In an outbreak, there is usually a wide range in gestational age of aborted fetuses. In most cases there are no gross lesions, but in a few cases there are distinct small white foci, 1-3 mm in diameter, in some cotyledons. The fetal brain often has focal areas of nonsuppurative inflammation on histology. Fetal serology (indirect hemagglutination inhibition, latex agglutination, or fluorescent antibody) may also be used. Once infected, ewes are immune, so running unbred ewes with aborting ones may allow them to develop immunity. Preventing contamination of feed by cat feces may help reduce exposure. Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis. (See also Toxoplasmosis: Introduction.)
Listeriosis:
Abortion caused by Listeria monocytogenes in ewes usually occurs in late gestation. There is some necrosis of cotyledons and the intercotyledonary areas, and the fetus is usually autolyzed. The fetal liver (and possibly lung) may have necrotic foci, 0.5-1 mm in diameter. Diagnosis is by culture. (See also Listeriosis: Introduction .)
Brucellosis:
The major importance of Brucella ovis is as a cause of epididymitis in rams, but it also causes late-term abortions, stillbirths, and birth of weak lambs. B melitensis is rare in the USA but causes abortion in areas where it is found. B abortus occasionally causes abortion in sheep. Brucella abortions occur late in gestation, resulting in placentitis with edema and necrosis of the cotyledons and thickened, leathery intercotyledonary areas. Many fetuses aborted due to B ovis are alive at the beginning of parturition, although fetuses can be mummified or autolyzed. Most fetuses aborted due to B melitensis or B abortus are autolytic. Culture of the placenta, abomasal contents, and the dam’s vaginal discharge are diagnostic. A vaccine for B melitensis is available in some countries. B melitensis and B abortus are zoonotic. (See also Brucellosis in Large Animals: Introduction.)
Salmonellosis:
Salmonella abortus ovis , S dublin , S typhimurium , and S arizona have caused abortions in sheep. S abortus ovis is endemic in England and Europe but has not been reported in the USA. The other serotypes occur worldwide. Most ewes are sick and febrile before aborting. There are no specific placental lesions, and the fetus is autolyzed. Diagnosis is by culture of placenta, fetus, or uterine discharge. See also Dentistry .
Other Causes of Abortion:
Bluetongue virus and Akabane virus (where present) cause abortion and congenital anomalies in sheep and are differential diagnoses for Cache Valley virus infection. Coxiella burnetii causes occasional abortion storms in sheep, with the clinical syndrome and fetal pathology being the same as for goats (see abortion in goats, Abortion in Goats). Neospora caninum has been reported to cause occasional abortions in sheep with the lesions resembling those of Toxoplasma gondii .
