Abstract
ABSTRACT Abortion and complications in reproduction are important causes of economic loss in horse breeding. Studies of its causal agents can help to identify the primary pathogens or other factors involved and define appropriate measures to reduce its occurrence. This research aimed to investigate the primary causes of equine abortion, stillbirth, and perinatal mortality in regions of Brazil. Tissue from aborted fetuses, stillbirths, neonates and foals submitted to the Biological Institute of São Paulo, Brazil, from January 2010 to July 2013 were processed for viral and bacterial isolation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), histology, and immunohistochemistry. Bacterial infection was the primary detected cause of abortion, found in 16 of the 53 animals submitted for bacterial analysis followed by viruses analysis in 2 of 105 animals, and noninfectious causes (neonatal isoerythrolysis) in 2 of 105 animals. Fungi were found in a single sample of 53 tested. The most frequent bacteria recovered were Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, combined E. coli and Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., and Bacillus spp. The following agents were each observed in a single sample: Arcanobacterium pyogenes, Streptococcus spp., Corynebacterium spp., Actinobacillus spp., and Rhodococcus equi. The predominant identification of fecal and other opportunistic bacteria as opposed to pathogens commonly associated with equine abortion, such as Leptospira spp. and equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1), suggests the need of improving hygiene management of breeding mares to prevent bacterial infection that may cause fetal loss, stillbirth, and perinatal mortality.
Highlights
Tissue from aborted fetuses, stillbirths, neonates and foals submitted to the Biological Institute of São Paulo, Brazil, from January 2010 to July 2013 were processed for viral and bacterial isolation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), histology, and immunohistochemistry
The predominant identification of fecal and other opportunistic bacteria as opposed to pathogens commonly associated with equine abortion, such as Leptospira spp. and equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1), suggests the need of improving hygiene management of breeding mares to prevent bacterial infection that may cause fetal loss, stillbirth, and perinatal mortality
Other studies point to bacterial infections as the cause of 20–34% of equine infectious abortions, representing an important economic loss (MOREIRA et al, 1998; GENOVEZ et al, 1995; LAUGIER et al, 2011; MARCOLONGOPEREIRA et al, 2012)
Summary
Abortion and complications of reproduction are important causes of economic losses in equine breeding due to the elevated costs incurred with diagnosis and treatment as well as the loss of animals (MOREIRA et al, 1998).The causes of equine abortion, stillbirth, and perinatal mortality include bacterial agents Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Escherichia coli, Leptospira spp., Rodococcus equi, and Klebsiella spp. (GENOVEZ et al, 1995; LAUGIER et al, 2011); viral agents as equid alphaherpesvirus 1 and equine viral arteritis (EVA) (MOREIRA et al, 1998; LAUGIER et al, 2011; HONG et al, 1993); and fungi Aspergillus spp., Candida albicans, Mucor spp., Zygomycetes spp., and Histoplasma capsulatum (HONG et al, 1993; SMITH et al, 2003; SZEREDI et al, 2008; JUFFO, 2016).Birth of twins has been considerably reduced through detection with ultrasound scans, but other noninfectious causes including neonatal isoerythrolysis (an immune condition that leads to the lysis of blood cells after ingesting of antibodies present in colostrum), umbilical cord torsion, and umbilical cord/cervical pole ischemia disorder must be considered (HONG et al, 1993; SZEREDI et al, 2008; RICKETTS et al, 2001; RIZZONI; MIYAUCHI, 2012).Studies of causes of abortion, stillbirth and perinatal mortality can help to identify the primary pathogens or other factors involved and define appropriate measures to reduce its occurrence. The causes of equine abortion, stillbirth, and perinatal mortality include bacterial agents Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Escherichia coli, Leptospira spp., Rodococcus equi, and Klebsiella spp. Birth of twins has been considerably reduced through detection with ultrasound scans, but other noninfectious causes including neonatal isoerythrolysis (an immune condition that leads to the lysis of blood cells after ingesting of antibodies present in colostrum), umbilical cord torsion, and umbilical cord/cervical pole ischemia disorder must be considered (HONG et al, 1993; SZEREDI et al, 2008; RICKETTS et al, 2001; RIZZONI; MIYAUCHI, 2012). Studies of causes of abortion, stillbirth and perinatal mortality can help to identify the primary pathogens or other factors involved and define appropriate measures to reduce its occurrence. The goal of the present study was to determine the primary causes of equine abortion, stillbirth, and perinatal mortality in Brazil
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