title: Infectious causes of bovine abortion during mid- to late-gestation.
abstract: The accurate and prompt diagnosis of infectious abortions in a herd requires cooperation between the herd veterinarian and a veterinary diagnostic laboratory; working together, with good communication and appropriate sampling and testing, the chances of obtaining an etiologic diagnosis are improved. Abortion diagnosis is a challenge as a cause is usually identified in less than half of submitted fetuses. The majority of diagnosed abortions are attributed to infections by a moderate number of bacterial, viral, fungal and protozoal agents. The pathology and other findings used in the laboratory diagnosis of the major infectious agents causing bovine abortion in mid- to late-gestation will be discussed.
authors.affiliation: California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, P.O. Box 1770, Davis, CA 95617-1770, United States. manderson@ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: Mark L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors