Dumfries ovine abortion diagnoses 2023

A total of 136 submissions were received (78 foetal and 58 abortion kits). These were predominantly from Dumfries & Galloway and the north of England.

A piece of placenta/foetal membrane was submitted in 75.7% of cases and it was possible to carry out the full routine diagnostic package in 65.4% of submissions. This includes placental smears for EAE, toxoplasma serology and bacteriology. Overall, a diagnosis was reached in 60.3% of cases.

The pie chart shows the breakdown of diagnoses reached:

The “other bacterial” category includes sporadic causes of abortion such as Streptococcus spp., Trueperella pyogenes, Bibersteinia trehalosi and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis.

EAE, Toxoplasmosis and Campylobacter were almost inevitably the most common diagnoses with Toxoplasmosis taking the top spot this year. Vaccine availability has been patchy but where history was provided/available this does not seem to have been an issue in those cases where toxoplasmosis was diagnosed.

Posted by SRUC Veterinary Services on 18/07/2023