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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Vet Diagn Invest / Equine abortion and stillbirth in California: a review of 1,...
Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc2023; 35(2); 153-162; doi: 10.1177/10406387231152788

Equine abortion and stillbirth in California: a review of 1,774 cases received at a diagnostic laboratory, 1990-2022.

Abstract: Reproductive failure represents an important cause of economic loss for the equine industry. We reviewed the cases of equine abortion and stillbirth submitted to the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, University of California-Davis from 1990 to 2022. A total of 1,774 cases were reviewed. A confirmed cause of abortion was determined in 29.2% of the cases. Abortion or stillbirth was attributed to infectious agents in 18.7% of the cases, with Streptococcus spp., equine herpesvirus 1, and Leptospira spp. being the most prevalent. Noninfectious causes of abortion were established in 10.5% of the cases, with umbilical cord torsion being the most common. In 70.8% of the cases, a definitive cause of abortion could not be established. Our study demonstrated the difficulties in establishing an etiologic diagnosis, even when following a standard diagnostic work-up. New diagnostic approaches are needed to improve the likelihood of reaching a final diagnosis in cases of equine abortion and stillbirth.
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Publication Date: 2023-02-06 PubMed ID: 36744759PubMed Central: PMC9999402DOI: 10.1177/10406387231152788Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 reasons for equine abortion and stillbirth between 1990 and 2022 in California, and finds that accurate etiological diagnosis remains difficult, thus urging for new diagnostic approaches.

Summary of the Study

  • The researchers conducted a review of cases related to equine abortion and stillbirth. These were selected from the cases submitted to the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System at the University of California-Davis from 1990 to 2022.
  • A total of 1,774 cases were reviewed during the course of this analysis.

Findings from Case Analysis

  • A confirmed cause of abortion could be determined in only 29.2% of the total cases analyzed. If not confirmed, the cause was considered unknown.
  • In 18.7% of the cases, abortion or stillbirth was accounted for by infectious agents, with Streptococcus spp., equine herpesvirus 1, and Leptospira spp. reported as being the most common culprits.
  • Noninfectious causes were held responsible for the abortion in 10.5% of all cases, wherein umbilical cord torsion was the most common reason.
  • In a staggering 70.8% of all the cases, however, the researchers could not establish a definitive reason that could have caused the abortion.

Inference and Conclusion

  • The primary conclusion drawn by the researchers was that despite following standard diagnostic procedures, reaching an etiologic diagnosis (identifying the root cause of a disease) proved to be challenging in the majority of cases.
  • They recommended the development and application of new diagnostic approaches to increase the likelihood of discovering the real cause leading to cases of equine abortion and stillbirth, as a greater understanding in this area could benefit the equine industry by reducing the rate of reproductive failure.

Cite This Article

APA
Cantón GJ, Navarro MA, Asin J, Chu P, Henderson EE, Mete A, Uzal FA. (2023). Equine abortion and stillbirth in California: a review of 1,774 cases received at a diagnostic laboratory, 1990-2022. J Vet Diagn Invest, 35(2), 153-162. https://doi.org/10.1177/10406387231152788

Publication

Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc
ISSN: 1943-4936
NlmUniqueID: 9011490
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 35
Issue: 2
Pages: 153-162

Researcher Affiliations

Cantón, Germán J
  • National Institute of Agricultural Technology, Balcarce, Argentina.
Navarro, Mauricio A
  • Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
Asin, Javier
  • California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, San Bernardino, Laboratories, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, CA, USA.
Chu, Peter
  • Davis, Laboratories, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, CA, USA.
Henderson, Eileen E
  • California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, San Bernardino, Laboratories, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, CA, USA.
Mete, Asli
  • Davis, Laboratories, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, CA, USA.
Uzal, Francisco A
  • California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, San Bernardino, Laboratories, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, CA, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Pregnancy
  • Female
  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Stillbirth / epidemiology
  • Stillbirth / veterinary
  • Abortion, Veterinary / diagnosis
  • Abortion, Veterinary / epidemiology
  • Leptospira
  • California / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / etiology

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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Citations

This article has been cited 9 times.
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