Causes of abortion, stillbirth, and perinatal mortality in horses

Causes of abortion, stillbirth, and perinatal mortality in horses were investigated in the Department of Veterinary Pathology of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (SPV-UFRGS) from 2000 to 2015. In this period, 107 cases were analyzed using macroscopic, microscopic, and complementary tests. Of these, 77 were aborted fetuses, 16 were stillbirths, and 14 were perinatal deaths. Conclusive diagnosis was established in 42.8% of the fetuses analyzed, with 28.6% classified as infectious origin, 9.1% as non-infectious, and 5.1% as other. Bacterial infections, especially those related to Streptococcus spp. were the most frequently observed. In stillborn foals, diagnosis was established in 62.5% of cases, and 50% of these were related to non-infectious causes, such as dystocia and birth traumas. As for perinatal mortality, a conclusive diagnosis was reached in 78.57% of cases, and infectious causes associated with bacterial infections accounted for 64.1% of these diagnoses.

INDEX TERMS:
Abortion; stillbirth; perinatal mortality; horse; reproductive losses; infectious causes

Authorship

Gregory D. Juffo

Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Departamento de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves 9090, Porto Alegre, RS 91540-000, Brazil.Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do SulBrazilPorto Alegre, RS, BrazilSetor de Patologia Veterinária, Departamento de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves 9090, Porto Alegre, RS 91540-000, Brazil.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8312-7626

Nadia A.B. Antoniassi

Laboratório de Patologia Animal, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Av. Alexandre Ferronato 1200, Setor Industrial, Sinop, MT 78557-267, Brazil.Universidade Federal de Mato GrossoBrazilSinop, MT, BrazilLaboratório de Patologia Animal, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Av. Alexandre Ferronato 1200, Setor Industrial, Sinop, MT 78557-267, Brazil.

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5840-3265

Daniele M. Bassuino

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7724-3639

Danilo C. Gomes

Laboratório de Anatomia Patológica, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Av. Senador Filinto Muller 2443, Campo Grande, MS 79074-460, Brazil.Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do SulBrazilCampo Grande, MS, BrazilLaboratório de Anatomia Patológica, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Av. Senador Filinto Muller 2443, Campo Grande, MS 79074-460, Brazil.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7128-8756

Gustavo G.M. Snel

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4463-1248

Saulo P. Pavarini

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8980-6294

David Driemeier ^**Corresponding author: davetpat@ufrgs.br

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3766-0654

*Corresponding author: davetpat@ufrgs.br

Conflict of interest statement.- The authors declare that they have no competing interest.

SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Figures | Tables

Figures (1)
Tables (3)

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Fig.1-4.
Causes of abortion, stillbirth, and perinatal mortality in horses. (1) Abortion by Streptococcus sp. Placenta with reddish multifocal areas. (2) Abortion by Mucor sp. Placenta with marked thickening of cotyledons and intense red coloration. (3) Perinatal death due to Staphylococcus sp. Lungs with dark red multifocal areas that corresponded to areas of consolidation and hemorrhage. (4) Perinatal death due to Klebsiella pneumoniae. Lung with areas of cranioventral consolidation, focally extensive areas of dark red color, and fibrin deposition on the pleural and pericardial surface.

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Table 1.
Causes of abortion diagnosed in horses from 2000 to 2015

Thumbnail

Table 2.
Causes of stillbirth diagnosed in horses from 2000 to 2015

Thumbnail

Table 3.
Causes of perinatal death in horses diagnosed from 2000 to 2015

Fig.1-4. Causes of abortion, stillbirth, and perinatal mortality in horses. (1) Abortion by Streptococcus sp. Placenta with reddish multifocal areas. (2) Abortion by Mucor sp. Placenta with marked thickening of cotyledons and intense red coloration. (3) Perinatal death due to Staphylococcus sp. Lungs with dark red multifocal areas that corresponded to areas of consolidation and hemorrhage. (4) Perinatal death due to Klebsiella pneumoniae. Lung with areas of cranioventral consolidation, focally extensive areas of dark red color, and fibrin deposition on the pleural and pericardial surface.

Table 1. Causes of abortion diagnosed in horses from 2000 to 2015

Causes of abortion			Cases	% of total
Infectious
	Bacterial
		Streptococcus spp.	6	7.8
		Leptospira spp.	4	5.2
		Pasteurella pneumotropica	2	2,6
		Staphylococcus spp.	1	1.3
		Escherichia coli	1	1.3
	Fungal
		Mucor spp.	1	1.3
	No defined agent		7	9.1
No infectious
		Umbilical torsion	4	5.2
		Placental insufficiency	3	3.9
Others
		Congenital abnormalities	1	1.3
		Maternal diseases	3	3.9
Not determined			44	57.1
TOTAL			77	100

Table 2. Causes of stillbirth diagnosed in horses from 2000 to 2015

Causes of stillbirth			Cases	% of total
Infectious
	Bacterial
		Streptococcus spp.	1	6.2
Non infectious
		Dystocia	3	18.8
		Placental insufficiency	2	12.5
		Birth trauma	2	12.5
		Asphyxia	1	6.2
Others
		Congenital abnormalities	1	6.2
Not determined			6	37.5
TOTAL			16	100

Table 3. Causes of perinatal death in horses diagnosed from 2000 to 2015

Causes of perinatal death			Cases	% of total
Infectious
	Bacterial
		Acinobacillus equuli	2	14.2
		Streptococcus spp.	1	7.1
		Klebsiella pneumoniae	1	7.1
		Enterobacter aerogenes	1	7.1
		Staphylococcus spp.	1	7.1
	No defined agent		3	21.5
Others
		Congenital abnormalities	2	14.2
Not determined			3	21.5
		TOTAL	14	100

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Colégio Brasileiro de Patologia Animal - CBPA Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira, Caixa Postal 74.591, 23890-000 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil, Tel./Fax: (55 21) 2682-1081 - Rio de Janeiro - RJ - Brazil
E-mail: pvb@pvb.com.br

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[1] *Corresponding author: davetpat@ufrgs.br