Twin fetal maceration in a cow associated with persistent corpus luteum and closed cervix

Abstract

Fetal maceration in the cow that occurs after the third month of gestation, when fetal bones are fairly well developed, and that may be caused by wound infection type bacterial agents, especially Corynobacterium pyogenes, progressing to septic metritis with death and maceration of the fetus in a closed uterus, is uncommon. In other circumstances, fetal death with maceration in cattle is usually accompanied by regression of the corpus luteum (CL) with opened cervix.

In two previous surveys, in which we studied the gross lesions ofbovine reproductive tracts, we did not encounter any case of fetal maceration. This report provides macroscopic description of a case of twin fetal maceration in the cow associated with persistent corpus luteum and closed cervix.