Causes of bovine abortion, stillbirth and neonatal death in Finland 1999–2006

Abstract

The aim of this retrospective study was to reveal the causes of bovine abortions, stillbirths and neonatal deaths in Finland. All cases submitted for necropsy to laboratories of the Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira between 1999 and 2006 were included. A total of 434 cases were received, of which the majority (336) were obtained as routine laboratory diagnostic service and additional 98 cases from two research projects. The production type was available in 242 cases, of which 55% were from dairy farms and 45% beef cow-calf farms. A total of 271 entire fetuses, 147 stillborn or neonatal calves dead within the first 24 hours and sixteen tissue samples were obtained. Placental tissue was available in 116 cases (26%).A full necropsy was performed to fetuses and calves including sample collection for histopathology, bacteriology and virology as appropriate. Conventional bacteriological methods were used for culturing aerobic, anaerobic, and microaerophilic bacteria, fungi, salmonella, campylobacteria, and staining for brucella. Since 2004 detection of mycoplasma was performed (total n = 146). BVD (n = 188) and IBR (n = 188) viruses were isolated in cell culture and serology was used for BVD, IBR and bovine parvovirus for 48, 50, and 93 samples, respectively. (1) were found occasionally. In neonatal calves Bacillus licheniformis (7/140, 5%)) was the most common bacterial isolation, followed by Escherichia coli (3), Staphylococcus sp. (3) and Arcanobacterium pyogenes (1), Streptococcus sp. (1) and Mannheimia varigena (1). Neospora caninum was diagnosed from three cases showing encephalitis or myositis.None of the samples were positive for BVD or IBR viruses, neither their antibodies. Parvovirus antibodies were common (58%, 56/93), however no pathological lesions were associated with parvovirus seropositivity. Thus the significance of this finding remains questionable.

An International Delphi Study of the Causes of Death and the Criteria Used to Assign Cause of Death in Bovine Perinatal Mortality

“…This is consistent with the results of studies on bovine perinatal mortality where such lesions are the most common criteria used to diagnose infection as a cause of death (Syrjala et al. ; Waldner et al. ).…”

“…Such unanimity is not surprising as congenital defects are listed in nearly all studies on bovine perinatal mortality as a minor, though easily diagnosed, cause of death (Khodakaram‐Tafti and Ikede ; Syrjala et al. ; Waldner et al. ).…”

Assessment of cow and farm level risk factors associated with Ureaplasma diversum in pasture-based dairy systems - A field study

“…Some research teams have linked the identification of this bacterium with abortion, after performing additional tests in animals that had not been diagnosed through routine procedures (Watson et al 2012). This confirms data published in Finland (Syrjälä et al 2007). …”

Identification and quantification of lichenysin – a possible source of food poisoning

“…Large amounts of B. licheniformis have been associated with a few cases of food poisoning (intoxications), one of which had a fatal outcome . It has also been involved in animal abortions and bovine mastitis where lichenysin-producing strains were detected in mastitic milk (Agerholm et al 1995, Johnson et al 1994, Nieminen et al 2007, Syrjälä et al 2007). …”