Epidemiological Investigations of Bovine Protozoal Abortion in California Dairy Herds

Authors

  • Mark Anderson Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
  • John Picanso Vet Med Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
  • Mark Thurmond Vet Med Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
  • Pat Blanchard Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
  • Bill Layton Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
  • Chuck Palmer California Department of Food and Agriculture, Livestock and Poultry Sciences Institute, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, BARC - East, Beltsville, MD 20705
  • Jim Case Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
  • Bradd Barr Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
  • J. P. Dubey Zoonotic Diseases Laboratory, Livestock and Poultry Sciences Institute, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, BARC - East, Beltsville, MD 20705
  • Pat Conrad Vet Med Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21423/aabppro19926493

Keywords:

Bovine protozoal abortion, Neospora - like protozoa, bovine abortion, prevalence rate, patterns of occurrence, BPA

Abstract

Bovine protozoal abortion (BPA) is a newly recognized fetal infection caused by a Neospora- like protozoan parasite. Aborted fetuses have characteristic histologic lesions of focal nonsuppurative necrotizing encephalitis, nonsuppurative myocarditis and myositis. The diagnosis is confirmed by immunohistochemistry using antisera to Neospora caninum on the fetal tissues6,11. Neospora - like protozoa abortions were first reported from an abortion storm in a dairy in New Mexico14 and are now recognized as an important, widely distributed cause of abortion1-5,8,9,12-14. The infection has been identified in 413 fetal samples submitted to the California Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for immunohistochemistry. These samples represented 224 herds in 10 states in the United States as well as Mexico and Canada The infection is common in California where it is the most frequently diagnosed cause of bovine abortion2,5. In this study, data from bovine abortion submissions to the California Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (CVDL) from the San Joaquin Valley over a 6 year period are examined. The objectives were to determine the prevalence rate and temporal and seasonal patterns of occurrence of BPA.

Cover image of the Second Volume of the 25th Conference Proceedings: An earl-morning photo of farmland. A small farm is nestled among rolling hills, fields stretching across a curving road that disappears between dark green trees. The barn is a cheery red color with a tin roof. Beneath the photo is the a statement of the conference's theme in white italics: Challenges of the Bovine Industry in the Twenty-First Century. Deep red background.

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Published

1992-08-31

Issue

1992: Volume 2

Section

Theriogenology I