Abortions in sheep caused by Salmonella Brandenburg : Pathological findings

Authors: Clark RG, Smart JA, Gill JM, Fairley RA
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 55, Issue 6, pp 356-357, Dec 2007
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant, Sheep
Subject Terms: Abortion/stillbirth, Bacterial, Diagnostic procedures, Reproduction, Alimentary system/gastroenterology, Notifiable organisms/exotic disease, Pathology, Reproduction - female, Disease/defect, Infectious disease, Zoonosis, Public health
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: In recent years, Salmonella Brandenburg has been a common cause of abortion in sheep in areas of the South Island of New Zealand. The disease is characterised by about 5% (range <1–20%) ewes aborting, and about 50% (range 10–100%) of these ewes die (Clark et al 2004). Abortions occur from 80 days, peaking at about 100–120 days’ gestation (Clark et al 2004). On some farms, cases occur over a 2–3-week period and then cease (the typical bell-shaped curve), whereas on other farms, cases keep on occurring until lambing starts (Smart 2000, non-peer-reviewed). Salmonella Brandenburg is suspected if ewes abort and are off colour and/or die, or if ewes show signs of aborting but die before this occurs. There may be a putrid-smelling uterine discharge and/or retained membranes. Sometimes there may be external evidence of a khaki-coloured diarrhoea. Temperatures in live affected ewes range up to 41°C. At this stage, the main differential diagnosis would be abortion due to listeriosis. This is a report on the pathological findings seen in dead ewes, and aborted fetuses and placentae, routinely submitted to two veterinary diagnostic laboratories...

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