Page 470 - The Veterinary Laboratory and Field Manual 3rd Edition

Common clinical problems 407

Table 10.2 continued

disease agent Clinical Time of disease in the Placental lesions Samples to
features abortion foetus collect
Mycotic agents 6–7% may be 3–7 months Often fungal Necrotic maternal The fungi
affected lesions over the cotyledons, soft (Aspergillus sp.,
foetus yellow cushion Absidia sp.) may
like lesions, small be seen in direct
raised leathery smears taken
areas across the from the placenta,
intercotyledonary foetal tissues and
area placenta may also
be submitted for
culture
Listeria Septicaemia > 7 months No obvious No obvious Submit sera
monocytogenes with abortion abnormality abnormality from the dam
late in to rule out other
gestation causes and fixed/
fresh foetal and
placental tissue
Unknown 30–40% Variable As above As above As above along
viruses can abort with whole blood
depending for haematology
on the virus
involved and
previous
exposure
Non-specific May abort Variable, Variable Variable As above
i.e. Salmonella early in may have
septicaemia gestation, can early
involve many embryonic
animals of an loss
individual

Figure 10.1 Some
common causes of
abortion in pigs and the
time of gestation at which
abortions typically occur.

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