Infectious and Non-infectious Causes of Abortion in Saanen and Alpine Goats

Abstract

Background: Infectious and non-infectious abortions are necessary to be evaluated in Saanen and Alpine breeds as they have been recently imported to Iran whith out enough information about their susceptibility to diseases in the country situation. The present study aimed to investigate the causes of abortion in Saanen and Alpine to compare their susceptibility to each identified abortion factor.
 Methods: A total of 600 Saanen and 600 Alpine breeds were studied. Abomasal contents of foeti and serum samples from aborted does were analyzed by PCR and conventional culture methods and beta-hydroxy butyrate was measured in the serum of aborted animals.
 Results: Among 1200 pregnant goats, 59 Saanens and 80 Alpines aborted their fetus. Escherichia coli was isolated from 4 Saanens and 3 Alpines. Trueperella pyogenes was isolated from 5 Saanens and 7 Alpines. Pregnancy toxemia was the cause of abortion in 12 Saanens and 30 Alpines which showed a significant difference between the two breeds. Six Saanens and 10 Alpines aborted their fetus following trauma.
 Conclusion: As abortion is an economically important issue, especially for the breeds which we have less information about, the susceptibility of animals and the frequency of each abortifacient should be evaluated.