Ovine Abortion
Posted by Douglas A. Anderson, DVM on 9/3/2001 to
CAMPYLOBACTER
Abortion in ewes has many causes. Some are infectious like enzootic abortion of ewes (EAE)/chlamydiosis (Chlamydia psittaci), vibriosis/campylobacteriosis (Campylobactre fetus), brucellosis (Brucella spp.), toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma gondii), listeriosis (Listeria monocytogenes), and salmonellosis (Salmonellaspp.). Others are toxic like hellebores (Veratrum spp.), kale (Brassica spp.), locoweed (Oxytropis spp.), poison/milk vetch (Astragalus spp.), broomweed (Gutierrezia microcephala), coumarins (rat poison, moldy grass or sweet clover), and mycotoxins (usually those that mimic the hormone estrogen). Still other diseases and toxic plants can cause abortions under certain conditions. Malnutrition, abrupt nutritional changes, and heat stress have been implicated and several more causes are currently under investigation.