F10
Abortion

Ways of Preventing Abortions in Sheep and Goats:
  1. Establish a thorough biosecurity program in the flock/herd. See page B76 for additional details.
  2. Keep crowding and stresses to a minimum.
  3. Implement a vaccination program for the common diseases that are found in the area.
  4. Avoid exposing sheep or goats to other animals, particularly cattle and swine.
  5. If possible, do not place feed on the ground.
  6. Keep water and feed sources free of fecal contamination.
  7. Maintain good body condition on all breeding and pregnant animals. This means that diets should be high in energy and protein. See page B580 for additional nutrition information.

Major Causes of Abortion in Sheep and Goats:
Cause and Common Names    Stage of Gestation    Abnormalities in the Fetus and Placenta    Ways to Diagnose the Problem
Bluetongue    Anytime Abnormalities in the nervous and skeletal systems    Send in fetus for virus isolation, necropsy, and pathology
Border Disease
(Hairy Shaker Disease)   		 Anytime Skeleton, central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) deformed    Send in fetus for virus isolation, necropsy, and pathology
Brucella melitensis or B. ovis
(Brucellosis)   		 Last trimester  B. melitensis - placenta normal 
B. ovis - placenta thick and inflamed   		 Send in fetus, placenta, or vaginal discharge for isolation of the organism
Coxiella burnetii
(Q-fever)   		 Last few weeks Destruction and inflammation of the placenta    Send in fetus for histopathology and potential isolation of the organism
Chlamydia psittaci
(Enzootic abortion of ewes)   		 4th or 5th month Destruction and inflammation of the placenta    Send in fetus for histopathology and isolation of the organism
Campylobacter fetus and jejuni
(Vibriosis)   		 Last 6 weeks Inflammation of the placenta and liver destruction    Send in fetus for pathology and isolation of the organism
Leptospira interrogans
(Leptospirosis)   		 Second half Yellow gums (icterus)    Send in fetus for histopathology 
Listeria monocytogenes
(Listeriosis)   		 Anytime Placentitis    Send in fetus for histopathology 
Toxoplasma gondii
(Toxoplasmosis)   		 Anytime Destruction and calcification of the cotyledons    Send in fetus for histopathology and blood samples for serology

*Additional details about many of the above diseases can be found in Section F.