Seventh Month Of Gestation Research Articles

Associations of hypertension and antenatal care-seeking with perinatal mortality: A nested case-control study in rural Bangladesh.

Maternal hypertension may be an underrecognized but important risk factor for perinatal death in low resource settings. We investigated the association of maternal hypertension and perinatal mortality in rural Bangladesh. This nested, matched case-control study used data from a 2019 cross-sectional survey and demographic surveillance database in Baliakandi, Bangladesh. We randomly matched each pregnancy ending in perinatal death with five pregnancies in which the neonate survived beyond seven days based on maternal age, education, and wealth quintile. We estimated associations of antenatal care-seeking and self-reported hypertension with perinatal mortality using conditional logistic regression and used median and interquartile ranges to assess the mediation of antenatal care by timing or frequency. Among 191 cases and 934 matched controls, hypertension prevalence was 14.1% among cases and 7.7% among controls. Compared with no diagnosis, the probability of perinatal death was significantly higher among women with a pre-gestational hypertension diagnosis (OR 2.90, 95% CI 1.29, 6.57), but not among women with diagnosis during pregnancy (OR 1.68, 95% CI 0.98, 2.98). We found no association between the number of antenatal care contacts and perinatal death (p = 0.66). Among women with pre-gestational hypertension who experienced a perinatal death, 78% had their first antenatal contact in the sixth or seventh month of gestation. Hypertension was more common among rural women who experience a perinatal death. Greater effort to prevent hypertension prior to conception and provide early maternity care to women with hypertension could improve perinatal outcomes in rural Bangladesh.

Hydrocele of Canal of Nuck In an Adult Female: A Case Report

Hydrocele of the canal of Nuck is a rare abnormality, developing in the protruded part of the parietal peritoneum within the inguinal canal in a female. It is homologous to the processus vaginalis in males and obliterates from the seventh month of gestation to one year of age. Failure of obliteration, results in Nuck hydrocele or herniation of intra-abdominal contents through the patent Canal of Nuck. These are usually detected and repaired in young girls within the first five years of life. Reports of Canal of Nuck hydrocele in adults are sparse. Most of these patients are misdiagnosed on clinical examination and correctly diagnosed intraoperatively during surgery for suspected ‘inguinal hernia’. Here, this case is about a 25-year-old female, who presented with swelling in the right groin for one month. Computed Tomography of the abdomen showed features suggestive of a hydrocele within the Canal of Nuck. She underwent laparoscopic hydrocelectomy and laparoscopic hernia repair via the transabdominal preperitoneal approach. This case report highlights the novel approach of laparoscopic management of this rare case.

Reactivation and Foetal Infection in Pregnant Heifers Infected with Neospora caninum Live Tachyzoites at Prepubertal Age.

Neospora caninum is recognised for causing cattle abortion, provoking severe economic losses in the livestock industry worldwide. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the reactivation and foetal infection in pregnant heifers inoculated with live N. caninum tachyzoites before puberty. A total of 15 30-month-old pregnant heifers were allocated into four groups: animals inoculated with live tachyzoites of NC-Argentina LP1 isolate before puberty and challenged with live tachyzoites of NC-1 strain at 210 days of gestation (DG) (Group A); animals mock inoculated before puberty and challenged with NC-1 strain at 210 DG (Group B), animals inoculated before puberty but not subsequently challenged (Group C); and noninfected and nonchallenged animals (Group D). The results of this study showed that 100% of animals infected before puberty (Groups A and C) suffered reactivation of the infection at the seventh month of gestation. In addition, in three and two calves from Groups A and C, respectively, congenital infection was confirmed. Interestingly, we provide evidence that the use of live N. caninum tachyzoites in young animals as a strategy to induce protection is neither safe nor effective.

Assessment of Fetal Aortic, Thoracic, and Heartbeat in Healthy Donkey Pregnancies

Practitioners are frequently requested to diagnose and stage pregnancy in donkeys with unknown breeding dates; however, scant work has been done to stage pregnancy in the species. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the association between measurements of fetal aortic, thoracic, and heartbeat with gestational age in donkeys carrying and delivering healthy foals. Multiparous Dezhou donkeys (n = 50) ranging from 4 to 16 years were enrolled in the study by 150 days of gestation. Transabdominal ultrasonography coupled with a 3.5 MHz sectorial convex transducer was performed at 30 day-intervals until delivery to obtain fetal aortic, thoracic, and fetal heartbeat measurements. Data were tested for normality with Shapiro- Wilk's test and then ANOVA and Tukey's. Statistical significance was set at P < .05. The mean duration of pregnancy was 356.6 ± 10.6 days (339–368). There were significant associations between gestational age and fetal aortic (r = 0.89) and thoracic (r = 0.88) measurements. Fetal heartbeat (r = -0.76) was negatively correlated with gestation length. The fetal aortic and thoracic measurements increased from the seventh month of gestation to the term (P < .001). The fetal heartbeat remained steady from 150 days to 270 days of gestation, then continuously decreased from 270 days until parturition (P < .001). In conclusion, fetal aortic and thoracic measurements are strongly associated with gestational age in donkeys. Fetal heartbeat decreases with advanced pregnancy.

Severe Bone Microarchitecture Impairment in Women With Pregnancy and Lactation-Associated Osteoporosis.

ContextPregnancy- and lactation-associated osteoporosis (PLO) is a rare condition characterized by fragility fractures, mostly vertebral, during the third trimester of pregnancy or the early postpartum period.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate bone microarchitecture in women with PLO to better understand the pathophysiology of this disease.Methods In this retrospective study, we included women with PLO referred to our bone center between November 2007 and July 2012. We assessed bone mineral density (BMD) by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, bone turnover markers, and bone microarchitecture by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography. Results were compared with a control group of healthy lactating women.ResultsOf the 7 primiparous patients with PLO, 6 suffered vertebral fractures and 1 developed a hip fracture during the seventh month of gestation. Fractures occurred within the eighth month of pregnancy and the fourth month post partum; vertebral fractures were multiple in 85.7%. Major or minor risk factors for osteoporosis were present in 86% of our patients. Trabecular density, number, and thickness were 34%, 20% and 22% lower than controls (P < .01, P = .01, and P = .01, respectively). Cortical parameters were also deteriorated but to a lesser extent.ConclusionIn comparison with healthy lactating women, patients with PLO presented severe deterioration of bone trabecular and cortical microarchitecture. This significant compromise may explain the occurrence of multiple fractures in these otherwise healthy young women. Further prospective studies are needed to determine whether bone microarchitecture might be able to be restored in the future.

Associations of Hypertension and Antenatal Care-Seeking With Perinatal Mortality: A Nested Case-Control Study in Rural Bangladesh

Introduction: Hypertension may be an important risk factor for perinatal death in low resource settings. We investigated the association of maternal hypertension and perinatal mortality in rural Bangladesh. Methods: This nested, matched case-control study used data from a 2019 cross-sectional survey and demographic surveillance database in Baliakandi, Bangladesh. We randomly matched each pregnancy ending in perinatal death with five pregnancies in which the neonate survived beyond seven days based on maternal age, education, and wealth. We estimated associations of antenatal care-seeking and self-reported hypertension with perinatal mortality using conditional logistic regression and used median and interquartile ranges to assess the mediation of antenatal care by timing or frequency. Findings: Among 191 cases and 934 matched controls, hypertension prevalence was 14∙1% among cases and 7∙7% among controls. Compared with no diagnosis, the probability of perinatal death was significantly higher among women with a pre-gestational hypertension diagnosis (OR 2∙90, 95% CI 1∙29, 6∙57), but not among women with diagnosis during pregnancy (OR 1∙68, 95% CI 0∙98, 2∙98). We found no association between the number of antenatal care contacts and perinatal death (p=0∙66). Among women with pre-gestational hypertension who experienced a perinatal death, 78% had their first antenatal contact in the sixth or seventh month of gestation. Interpretation: Hypertension was more common among rural women who experience a perinatal death. Greater effort to prevent hypertension prior to conception and provide early maternity care to women with hypertension could improve perinatal outcomes in rural Bangladesh. Funding Information: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: Ethical approval for the study was provided by the Ethical Review Committee of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh.

Age-Appropriate Functions and Dysfunctions of the Neonatal Neutrophil.

Neonatal and adult neutrophils are distinctly different from one another due to well-defined and documented deficiencies in neonatal cells, including impaired functions, reduced concentrations of microbicidal proteins and enzymes necessary for pathogen destruction, and variances in cell surface receptors. Neutrophil maturation is clearly demonstrated throughout pregnancy from the earliest hematopoietic precursors in the yolk sac to the well-developed myeloid progenitor cells in the bone marrow around the seventh month of gestation. Notable deficiencies of neonatal neutrophils are generally correlated with gestational age and clinical condition, so that the least functional neutrophils are found in the youngest, sickest neonates. Interruption of normal gestation secondary to preterm birth exposes these shortcomings and places the neonate at an exceptionally high rate of infection and sepsis-related mortality. Because the fetus develops in a sterile environment, neonatal adaptive immune responses are deficient from lack of antigen exposure in utero. Newborns must therefore rely on innate immunity to protect against early infection. Neutrophils are a vital component of innate immunity since they are the first cells to respond to and defend against bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. However, notable phenotypic and functional disparities exist between neonatal and adult cells. Below is review of neutrophil ontogeny, as well as a discussion regarding known differences between preterm and term neonatal and adult neutrophils with respect to cell membrane receptors and functions. Our analysis will also explain how these variations decrease with postnatal age.

Prevalence of Bovine herpesvirus type 4 in aborting dairy cows.

Bovine herpesvirus type 4 (BHV-4) is related to many different conditions: infertility, postpartal metritis, vulvovaginitis, mastitis, encephalitis, calf pneumonia, keratoconjunctivitis, cutaneous lesions, digital dermatitis and abortion. In this study a retrospective PCR examination of 100 extracted DNA samples from aborting cows was performed in order to determine: prevalence of BHV-4 in abortive cattle, whether coinfections BHV-4 with other abortifacient pathogens are present in the same sample and to determine the month of gestation when BHV-4 associated abortions were detected. Out of 100 examined samples, the BHV-4 genome was detected in 21 samples (21%). In two samples we detected coinfection of BHV-4 with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and in one with Neospora caninum. Most of the BHV-4-associated abortions were detected during the seventh month of gestation. It was concluded that an active BHV-4 infection was present among cows that aborted on the farms examined. The high prevalence of the BHV-4 genome in abortion material suggests that this virus may have cause the abortions. Further studies and examinations are needed to establish causative connection between presence of BHV-4 and abortion.

English

INTRODUCTION: The eyelids are mobile tissue curtains protecting the eyes from injuries. The position of the eyelid against the globe is vital for maintaining the normal function and integrity of the underlying eyeball. Embryologically eyelids arises from two folds of ectoderm and mesoderm at about 8 weeks of gestational age. These two folds fuse by the age of tenth week. By seventh month of gestation they separate again to form eyelids. The lower lid position in relationship to the globe is due to various forces acting on the eyelid by its different anatomic attachments. Superior and posterior traction which keeps the eyelid margin in proper position are the medial and lateral canthal tendons. The lower lid retractors provides an inferior traction. An opposing force to the lower lids is provided in the anterior direction by the globe and various other orbital contents. In case of malfunction of one of the supporting structures or imbalance in the forces acting on the eyelid, the eyelid cannot properly maintain its position in relation to the globe. As a result, inversion or eversion of eyelid margin can occur. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the etiology and outcome of different surgical modalities applicable in the management of various types of ectropion. METHODS OF EVALUATION: It was a prospective interventional study conducted at Orbit and Oculoplasty department, RIOGOH, Egmore, Chennai for a period of 12 months.25 patients presented with ectropion were included in this study. RESULTS: Out of 25 patients, 19 patients (76%) had involutional ectropion. Among them lateral tarsal strip with medial canthoplasty was done in 10 patients (40%), 9 patients (39%) underwent lateral tarsal strip procedure. Two patients (8%) with mild cicatricial ectropion were subjected to Z Plasty. Of the remaining 4 patients (16%) who underwent scar excision with skin grafting for severe cicatricial ectropion, 1 patient (4%) had a unsatisfactory result with persistent eversion of the eyelid due to insufficient graft uptake. All other 24 patients (96%) had satisfactory surgical outcome outcome in the form of improvement of symptoms like watering, preservation of anatomy (opposition of eyelid to the globe) and better cosmesis. CONCLUSION: `Lateral tarsal strip procedure and medial canthoplasty procedure gives the successful surgical outcome in the form of alleviation of symptoms like watering,restoration of eyelid anatomy,corneal protection in the lateral aspect of the eye and better cosmesis in the management of involutional and paralytic ectropion. Both these procedures are simple with a short learning curve. Z Plasty and skin grafting is the procedure of choice in the management of cicatricial ectropion with local and generalized defect respectively. Thus planning appropriate surgical approach according to the type and pathogenesis of ectropion is the key for successful surgical outcome.

Serum trace mineral variations in Nili-Ravi buffaloes suffering with prepartum vaginal prolapse in two different agro-ecological zones of Punjab, Pakistan

The present study was conducted during 2005 and 2006 on 200 Nili-Ravi buffaloes kept in two agroecological zones (irrigated [zone 1] and rain-fed [zone-2]) of Punjab, Pakistan, with the objective to determine the level of trace minerals (Cu, Fe, Zn, Se) in serum of the buffaloes suffering from vaginal prolapse and to compare them with their healthy counterparts. In each zone 50 buffaloes suffering from prepartum vaginal prolapse during their seventh month of gestation were identified through survey. Vaginal prolapse-affected buffaloes belonging to zone 1 were identified as group VPB1 (N = 50), whereas buffaloes belonging to zone 2 were recognized as VPB2 (N = 50). The buffaloes of control group in zone 1 and zone 2 were identified as NCB1 and NCB2, respectively. The blood samples in all four groups of buffaloes were collected three times, i.e., first when these animals were in the eighth month of gestation, second during the eighth to ninth month of gestation, and finally when these animals were in the ninth or later month of gestation. The mean serum copper concentrations in buffaloes of group VPB1 were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in comparison with NCB1 and NCB2, whereas there were nonsignificant differences (P > 0.05) in copper concentrations between VPB1 and VPB2. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) of iron concentration in VPB1 compared with NCB1 and NCB2. Similarly, VPB2 also had significantly lower (P < 0.05) iron concentrations compared with NCB1 and NCB2. Serum zinc concentrations were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in animals of the VPB1 group when compared with NCB1 and NCB2. Similarly, lower zinc concentrations were observed in VPB2 in comparison with NCB1 and NCB2. There was significantly lower (P < 0.05) zinc concentration in affected buffaloes (VPB1 and VPB2) from the ninth month of gestation to term when compared with those in the eighth to ninth mo of gestation, and with those not yet in the eighth month of gestation. Serum selenium concentration were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in control group buffaloes (NCB1 and NCB2) in comparison with vaginal prolapse-affected buffaloes (VPB1 and VPB2). During different stages of gestation, mean serum selenium concentrations varied nonsignificantly (P > 0.05) within each group of buffalo. Based on information obtained from this study, it was concluded that the low serum concentration of copper and selenium are linked to increased incidence of vaginal prolapse in buffaloes during the last trimester of gestation.

Bulldog dwarfism in Dexter cattle is caused by mutations in ACAN

Bulldog dwarfism in Dexter cattle is one of the earliest single-locus disorders described in animals. Affected fetuses display extreme disproportionate dwarfism, reflecting abnormal cartilage development (chondrodysplasia). Typically, they die around the seventh month of gestation, precipitating a natural abortion. Heterozygotes show a milder form of dwarfism, most noticeably having shorter legs. Homozygosity mapping in candidate regions in a small Dexter pedigree suggested aggrecan (ACAN) as the most likely candidate gene. Mutation screening revealed a 4-bp insertion in exon 11 (2266_2267insGGCA) (called BD1 for diagnostic testing) and a second, rarer transition in exon 1 (-198C>T) (called BD2) that cosegregate with the disorder. In chondrocytes from cattle heterozygous for the insertion, mutant mRNA is subject to nonsense-mediated decay, showing only 8% of normal expression. Genotyping in Dexter families throughout the world shows a one-to-one correspondence between genotype and phenotype at this locus. The heterozygous and homozygous-affected Dexter cattle could prove invaluable as a model for human disorders caused by mutations in ACAN.

The human sex ratio in New York City did not change after 11 September 2001

The human sex ratio in New York City did not change after 11 September 2001

Pregnancy under treatment of imatinib and successful labor in a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML): Outcome of discontinuation of imatinib therapy after achieving a molecular remission

Because of the teratogenicity data in rats, it is recommended that women treated with imatinib should be aware of the potential teratogenicity of imatinib and effective contraception should be used during imatinib therapy to prevent pregnancy. We describe successful pregnancy and delivery, without any congenital anomaly, in a patient with CML under treatment of imatinib. The fetus had been exposed to imatinib for 8 weeks. The patient remained off treatment during gestation and cytogenetic relapse of CML (5 months after discontinuation of imatinib therapy) developed at seventh month of gestation.

Validity of women's self-reported obstetric complications in rural Ghana.

This retrospective study assessed the utility of women's self-reports to identify obstetric complications in rural Ghana. All consenting obstetric and postpartum inpatients, presenting from the seventh month of gestation to 42 days postpartum, were interviewed at the Holy Family Hospital, Techiman and were asked about their signs and symptoms. A combination of clinical examination and laboratory testing of urine and blood samples was used for determining case status. Self-reported obstetric complications of 340 women were compared with the corresponding diagnostic status for their sensitivity, specificity, predictive value, and test-efficiency. Using algorithms that could not be practically applied at the community level, self-reported symptoms correctly identified the majority (75%) of complicated and uncomplicated pregnancies, but missed one-quarter of cases requiring emergency obstetric care. The positive predictive value of 50% indicates that women's self-reported symptoms should not be used in estimating the incidence of these conditions or in identifying women requiring referral in this population.

Three-dimensional development of bovine reticular cell (Cellula reticuli).

This paper describes the three-dimensional construction of the reticular cell, cellula reticuli, in bovine reticulum and its ontogenetic development. Reticular cells of fetal suckling calf and adult tissues were investigated both at the surface of intact mucosa and macerated samples using scanning electron microscopy. At the third month of gestation, the formation of the reticular cells on the mucosal surface started from the center of the cell and just above the reticular crest. The reticular crests were observed on the surface of the macerated sample at an earlier period of gestation (third month). In the eighth month of gestation, primary, secondary and tertiary reticular crests and papillae could be observed from the mucosal surface. Macerated samples showed that those structures were already formed completely under the epithelium by the first half of the seventh month of gestation. It is suggested that the development of the reticular papillae starts from the lower to the upper parts of the reticular cell.

Congenital polyalveolar lobe in three foals

Three cases of congenital polyalveolar lobe (pulmonary hamartoma) were diagnosed in female Thoroughbred foals. Foal 1 was born at full term but died shortly afterwards. Foal 2 was aborted at the seventh month of gestation. Parturition was induced at the tenth month of gestation in foal 3 because it developed hydrops of the amnion and ascites. In all three foals, the polyalveolar lobe occurred on the right side and affected the entire right lung. In each case, the right lung formed a tumour-like mass, and expanded into the left chest cavity. The lung masses were pink to dark red and spongy to rubbery, with marked lobular patterns on the pleural and cut surfaces. The left lung was compressed and small. The right and left lungs weighed 0.9-6.3 kg and 80 g-0.3 kg, respectively. Microscopically, the polyalveolar lobe consisted of normal alveoli, bronchioli and blood vessels, but the alveolus:artery ratio was greater than normal. In the polyalveolar lobe of two foals the numbers of alveoli per artery were 65.2 and 52.5; in contrast, the corresponding values for three control lungs were 26.9, 26.5 and 27.6. Chronic passive congestion with generalized oedema was observed in foals 2 and 3.

Developmental regulation and partial characterization of growth factors in the bovine mammary gland

Bovine mammary gland secretions from several developmental stages were shown to stimulate [3H]thymidine incorporation into AKR-2B mouse embryo fibroblast cells. In virgin heifers, mammary secretions at 1% concentration stimulated thymidine incorporation into AKR-2B cells more than threefold compared with 10% (v/v) fetal calf serum. The growth-promoting activity peaked at an early stage of the last trimester (7-8 months) of gestation and declined after this until the colostrum forming stage. At this point, the activity was one- to twofold that induced by 10% (v/v) fetal calf serum. At parturition the activity dropped abruptly to virtually undetectable values in milk. The developmental change in activity could be mimicked by hormonal priming of the mammary gland. The partial characterization of the growth promoting activities in secretions at the seventh month of gestation revealed at least two major growth-promoting activities: bovine mammary derived growth factor 1 (bMDGF-1), an epidermal growth factor-like growth factor with a molecular weight of 30,000, which is trypsin sensitive and heat stable, and bMDGF-2, which eluted under gel filtration conditions at a molecular weight of 50,000 and 150,000. bMDGF-1 is predominant in pregnant, precolostric, and colostric secretions, and is not detected in milk. bMDGF-2 is the major growth factor in milk. These results show developmental regulation and modulation of growth-promoting factors during the different stages of mammary gland development and suggest that growth factors are involved in regulating growth during gestation.

Tissue-invasive Tritrichomonas foetus in four aborted bovine fetuses.

Bovine trichomoniasis is a venereally transmitted protozoal infection that is usually associated with infertility and occasionally causes pyometra and midto late-term abortions. Some cows can carry the infection throughout gestation and remain infected after parturition. Abortions caused by Tritrichomonas foetus are usually diagnosed by microscopic identification of trichomonads in placental fluids, uterine exudate, or fetal stomach contents or by culture. In addition, characteristic placental and fetal lung lesions have been described, and fluorescent antibody and immunohistochemica1 techniques have been used to identify T. foetus in tissue sections. The purpose of this report is to describe 4 cases of tissue-invasive T. foetus infection in aborted bovine fetuses. A male fetus (fetus 1) was aborted in the seventh month of gestation by an Angus-cross heifer and submitted to the Tulare Branch of the California Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System (CVDLS) for postmortem examination. At necropsy, spleen and liver were enlarged, and the lungs were firm with patchy, suffusive hemorrhages, interlobular edema, and pale tan areas. Multifocal mucosal necrosis ranging from 3 mm in diameter to 20 x 15 mm was present in the rumen, and focal mucosal hemorrhages were present in the rumen, omasum, and abomasum. Multifocal hemorrhages and segmental hyperemia were seen in the small intestine, and petechial hemorrhages were present in the meninges. A 7-month female fetus (fetus 2) and a 6-month male fetus (fetus 3) were aborted by Holstein cows from the same dairy and were submitted to CVDLS for necropsy and diagnostic tests. Necropsy of fetus 2 revealed 2 liters of cloudy, yellow, viscous fluid in the rumen and abomasum and rare fibrin flecks adherent to the surface of a mottled liver. Fetus 3 had firm, diffusely yellow lungs with interlobular edema and patchy, swollen, hemorrhagic areas in the cranial lobes. The lungs floated in formalin. The rumen was diffisely hemorrhagic with a granular mucosa and patchy to paintbrush serosal hemorrhages. The omasal wall was diffusely reddened and hemorrhagic. Numerous ecchymotic hemorrhages were visible from the serosal and mucosal surfaces of the small intestine. Mesenteric lymph nodes were mildly enlarged and contained focal hemorrhages. Rare hemorrhages were present in the spiral colon and capsule of the spleen. The liver was mottled and slightly yellow.

Schizophrenia following pre-natal exposure to influenza epidemics between 1939 and 1960.

We examined the relationship between the dates of births of schizophrenic patients admitted to hospitals for the first time in England and Wales between 1970 and 1979, and the occurrence of influenza epidemics between 1939 and 1960. Our results indicate that exposure to influenza epidemics between the third and seventh month of gestation is associated with schizophrenia in adult life. The hypothesis that maternal viral infection is an important cause of schizophrenia can explain many aspects of the enigmatic epidemiology of the condition.

Demonstration of Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis Virus Antigen in Paraffin Sections

Nine pregnant heifers were inoculated intravenously with infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (IBRV) in the sixth month of pregnancy. Tissues were collected from the fetus of a heifer killed 13 days postinoculation (PI), from fetuses of 6 heifers that aborted 16-27 days PI, and from mummified fetuses of 2 heifers that aborted 53 and 85 days PI, respectively. Control tissues were obtained from the fetus of a non-inoculated heifer that was killed in the seventh month of gestation. Tissues were fixed in 10% formalin, embedded in paraffin, and examined for viral antigen by immunohistochemistry, using biotinylated second antibody and alkaline phosphatase-labeled avidin-biotin complex. Antigen was detected in at least 1 tissue from the fetus of each inoculated heifer. Positive tissues included lung, liver, spleen, kidney, adrenal, and placenta. In several fetuses, antigen was identified in tissues from which virus was not isolated in cell culture. This appeared to occur when tissues had only a few small foci of infection or when tissues were severely autolyzed. The observation of viral antigen in tissues from mummified fetuses indicates that this technique may be useful in diagnostic laboratories to detect IBRV infection in tissues that are not suitable for virus isolation or for examination by the cryostat tissue section-fluorescent antibody technique.