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Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association1993; 203(8); 1170-1175;

Causes of abortion, stillbirth, and perinatal death in horses: 3,527 cases (1986-1991).

Abstract: Pathology case records of 3,514 aborted fetuses, stillborn foals, or foals that died < 24 hours after birth and of 13 placentas from mares whose foals were weak or unthrifty at birth were reviewed to determine the cause of abortion, death, or illness. Fetoplacental infection caused by bacteria (n = 628), equine herpesvirus (143), fungi (61), or placentitis (351), in which an etiologic agent could not be defined, was the most common diagnosis. Complications of birth, including neonatal asphyxia, dystocia, or trauma, were the second most common cause of mortality and were diagnosed in 19% of the cases (679). Other common diagnoses were placental edema or premature separation of placenta (249), development of twins (221), contracted foal syndrome (188), other congenital anomalies (160), and umbilical cord abnormalities (121). Less common conditions were placental villous atrophy or body pregnancy (81), fetal diarrhea syndrome (34), and neoplasms or miscellaneous conditions (26). A diagnosis was not established in 16% of the cases seen (585). The study revealed that leptospirosis (78) was an important cause of bacterial abortion in mares, and that infection by a nocardioform actinomycete (45) was an important cause of chronic placentitis.
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Publication Date: 1993-10-15 PubMed ID: 8244867
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article examines the causes of abortion, stillbirth and perinatal death in horses over a five-year period. The study investigates the pathology of 3,527 recorded cases, aiming to identify the common factors leading to these issues.

Methodology

  • The research involved reviewing pathology case records from aborted fetuses, stillborn foals, and foals that died within 24 hours of birth. It also included 13 placentas from mares whose foals were weak or unwell at birth.
  • The key objective was to ascertain the causes of abortion, death, or illness amongst foals.

Findings

  • Fetoplacental infection – caused by bacteria, equine herpes virus, fungi, or placentitis – was identified as the most common cause of issues observed. An etiological agent couldn’t be defined in several cases of placentitis.
  • Complications during birth were the second most prevalent cause of death. Such complications included neonatal asphyxia, dystocia or trauma; these were diagnosed in 19% of the cases.
  • Other diagnoses established as common causes included placental edema, premature separation of placenta, development of twins, contracted foal syndrome, other congenital anomalies, and umbilical cord abnormalities.

Less Common Causes

  • The study also identified several less common conditions that could potentially lead to abortions, stillbirth, or perinatal death. These included placental villous atrophy, fetal diarrhea syndrome, body pregnancy, neoplasms, and other miscellaneous conditions.
  • In 16% of the cases investigated, a conclusive diagnosis couldn’t be established.

Infections

  • The study identified leptospirosis as a significant cause of bacterial abortion in mares. It also noted that infection by a nocardioform actinomycete was an essential cause of chronic placentitis.

Cite This Article

APA
Giles RC, Donahue JM, Hong CB, Tuttle PA, Petrites-Murphy MB, Poonacha KB, Roberts AW, Tramontin RR, Smith B, Swerczek TW. (1993). Causes of abortion, stillbirth, and perinatal death in horses: 3,527 cases (1986-1991). J Am Vet Med Assoc, 203(8), 1170-1175.

Publication

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
ISSN: 0003-1488
NlmUniqueID: 7503067
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 203
Issue: 8
Pages: 1170-1175

Researcher Affiliations

Giles, R C
  • Department of Veterinary Science, College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40511.
Donahue, J M
    Hong, C B
      Tuttle, P A
        Petrites-Murphy, M B
          Poonacha, K B
            Roberts, A W
              Tramontin, R R
                Smith, B
                  Swerczek, T W

                    MeSH Terms

                    • Abortion, Veterinary / etiology
                    • Animals
                    • Animals, Newborn
                    • Atrophy
                    • Bacterial Infections / complications
                    • Bacterial Infections / veterinary
                    • Birth Injuries / mortality
                    • Birth Injuries / veterinary
                    • Cause of Death
                    • Chorionic Villi / pathology
                    • Congenital Abnormalities / mortality
                    • Congenital Abnormalities / veterinary
                    • Dystocia / complications
                    • Dystocia / veterinary
                    • Edema / complications
                    • Edema / veterinary
                    • Female
                    • Fetal Death / etiology
                    • Fetal Death / veterinary
                    • Horse Diseases / etiology
                    • Horse Diseases / mortality
                    • Horses
                    • Inflammation
                    • Mycoses / complications
                    • Mycoses / veterinary
                    • Placenta Diseases / etiology
                    • Placenta Diseases / veterinary
                    • Pregnancy
                    • Pregnancy, Ectopic / complications
                    • Pregnancy, Ectopic / veterinary
                    • Pregnancy, Multiple
                    • Retrospective Studies
                    • Twins
                    • Umbilical Cord / abnormalities
                    • Virus Diseases / complications
                    • Virus Diseases / veterinary

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                    This article has been cited 31 times.
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