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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Equine amnionitis and fetal loss: mare abortion following ex...
Equine veterinary journal2011; 44(3); 282-288; doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00424.x

Equine amnionitis and fetal loss: mare abortion following experimental exposure to Processionary caterpillars (Ochrogaster lunifer).

Abstract: In Australia, there have been recent reports of unusual abortions in mid- to late-gestation mares. These were clinically distinct from other recognised causes of pregnancy loss and the term 'equine amnionitis and fetal loss' (EAFL) was adopted to describe this syndrome. Initial investigations concluded that possible causal factors included the presence on affected stud farms of Processionary caterpillars (Ochrogaster lunifer). Objective: To determine if exposure of pregnant mares to Processionary caterpillars or their shed exoskeletons can induce EAFL. Methods: Processionary caterpillars and their shed exoskeletons were collected and stored frozen. Mid-gestation mares were dosed with a slurry of caterpillars or shed exoskeleton by nasogastric intubation. Their clinical responses and times to abortion were recorded. All aborted fetuses were autopsied and samples taken for bacteriological and virological culture and histopathology. Results: Intubating mares in mid-pregnancy with preparations of either whole Processionary caterpillars or shed caterpillar exoskeletons induced abortion with few impending clinical signs. The gross pathological and bacteriological findings of the aborted fetuses were similar to those observed in field cases of EAFL. Conclusions: Possible exposure to Processionary caterpillars should be considered when examining cases of fetal loss in the mare. The present results provide a starting point to further explore the aetiology and pathogenesis of EAFL.
© 2011 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2011-08-05 PubMed ID: 21815917DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00424.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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.

This research investigates a syndrome causing mid-to-late term abortions in mares in Australia, termed “equine amnionitis and fetal loss” (EAFL). The study established a link between EAFL and the Processionary caterpillar (Ochrogaster lunifer) or its shed exoskeleton.

Objective of the Research

The objective of this study was to ascertain whether exposure of pregnant mares to Processionary caterpillars or their shed exoskeletons could lead to EAFL. This research was necessitated by the unique abortions reported among mid- to late-gestation mares in Australia, which didn’t match with recognized causes of pregnancy loss. There was a hypothesis that Processionary caterpillars might be the causal factor since they were found on affected stud farms.

Methodology

  • Processionary caterpillars and their shed exoskeletons were gathered and stored in a frozen state.
  • Mid-gestation mares were then dosed with a slurry composed of caterpillars or their shed exoskeletons using nasogastric intubation method.
  • The times to abortion and the clinical responses were documented.
  • Aborted fetuses were autopsied, and samples were collected for bacteriological and virological culture and histopathology.

Results

The intubation of mares in mid-pregnancy with preparations of either whole Processionary caterpillars or shed caterpillar exoskeletons led to abortion. In most cases, there were few clinical signs before the abortion. The pathological findings and bacterial content in the aborted fetuses resembled those seen in field cases of EAFL.

Conclusions

The research concluded that the presence of Processionary caterpillars or exposure to their shed exoskeletons can induce abortive syndromes similar to EAFL in pregnant mares. This finding can guide future investigations of fetal loss in mares showing new perspectives in studying the aetiology and pathogenesis of EAFL. It also highlights the need for additional precautionary measures in stud farms with Processionary caterpillars.

Cite This Article

APA
Cawdell-Smith AJ, Todhunter KH, Anderson ST, Perkins NR, Bryden WL. (2011). Equine amnionitis and fetal loss: mare abortion following experimental exposure to Processionary caterpillars (Ochrogaster lunifer). Equine Vet J, 44(3), 282-288. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00424.x

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 44
Issue: 3
Pages: 282-288

Researcher Affiliations

Cawdell-Smith, A J
  • Equine Research Unit, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia. j.cawdellsmith@uq.edu.au
Todhunter, K H
    Anderson, S T
      Perkins, N R
        Bryden, W L

          MeSH Terms

          • Aborted Fetus / microbiology
          • Aborted Fetus / pathology
          • Abortifacient Agents / chemistry
          • Abortifacient Agents / toxicity
          • Abortion, Veterinary / etiology
          • Animals
          • Australia
          • Chorioamnionitis / chemically induced
          • Chorioamnionitis / veterinary
          • Female
          • Fetal Death / chemically induced
          • Fetal Death / veterinary
          • Horse Diseases / chemically induced
          • Horses
          • Larva / chemistry
          • Moths / chemistry
          • Pregnancy
          • Pregnancy Outcome / veterinary
          • Random Allocation

          Citations

          This article has been cited 6 times.
          1. Farrell J, Zalucki MP, Battisti A. Host Specificity in Canopy Nesting Forms of Ochrogaster lunifer: The Larger Children Do Not Care.. Insects 2023 Apr 27;14(5).
            doi: 10.3390/insects14050420pubmed: 37233048google scholar: lookup
          2. Uemura M, Perkins LE, Zalucki MP, Battisti A. Movement behaviour of two social urticating caterpillars in opposite hemispheres.. Mov Ecol 2020;8:4.
            doi: 10.1186/s40462-020-0189-xpubmed: 32021689google scholar: lookup
          3. Perkins LE, Cribb BW, Pagendam DE, Zalucki MP. Variation in Morphology and Airborne Dispersal of the Urticating Apparatus of Ochrogaster lunifer (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae), an Australian Processionary Caterpillar, and Implications for Livestock and Humans.. J Insect Sci 2019 Nov 1;19(6).
            doi: 10.1093/jisesa/iez112pubmed: 31782508google scholar: lookup
          4. Wills PJ, Anjana M, Nitin M, Varun R, Sachidanandan P, Jacob TM, Lilly M, Thampan RV, Karthikeya Varma K. Population Explosions of Tiger Moth Lead to Lepidopterism Mimicking Infectious Fever Outbreaks.. PLoS One 2016;11(4):e0152787.
            doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152787pubmed: 27073878google scholar: lookup
          5. Hardy MC, Cochrane J, Allavena RE. Venomous and poisonous Australian animals of veterinary importance: a rich source of novel therapeutics.. Biomed Res Int 2014;2014:671041.
            doi: 10.1155/2014/671041pubmed: 25143943google scholar: lookup
          6. Volpato G, Di Nardo A, Rossi D, Saleh SM, Broglia A. 'Everybody knows', but the rest of the world: the case of a caterpillar-borne reproductive loss syndrome in dromedary camels observed by Sahrawi pastoralists of Western Sahara.. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 2013 Jan 10;9:5.
            doi: 10.1186/1746-4269-9-5pubmed: 23305273google scholar: lookup
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