Abortions

Abortion - Enzootic abortion

Abortions in Angora Goats may occur at

any stage of pregnancy and may have a
number of causes. The foetus may be
born dead or alive. Probably the most
important cause of abortion after day 90
of pregnancy is a nutritional energy
deficiency.
http://www.angoras.co.za/page/pregnant_
and_lactating_ewe#47

Energy deficiencies and stress during

handling, kraaling or dietary change may
also play a role. Infectious causes of
abortions include Enzootic abortion, Rift
Valley Fever, Wesselsbron, Coxiella (Q-
fever), Campylobacter, rarely Brucellosis
(meletensis) or Border disease.

Oestrogen when grazing on certain

pastures may also potentially cause
abortions as well as ‘domsiekteʼ and
certain mineral deficiencies.

The hypothesis that the abortion

phenomenon was heritable was first
proposed by van Heerden (1963,1964).
Van Rensburg (1965) subsequently
confirmed this hypothesis when he found,
on small numbers of goats, that mohair
production characters (with a fairly high
inheritance) were linked with abortion.

(Photo De Wet)

Enzootic abortion (chlamydiosis) is a

contagious disease in Angora goats and
sheep caused by Chlamydia psittaci.
Outbreaks are usually seen a year or two
after new sheep or goats were introduced
onto a farm. After the initial outbreak the
abortions are then usually just seen in
the maiden ewes. The abortions are more
likely to be seen under intensive rather
than a veld grazing environment.

The organisms localise in the epithelial

cells of the mucosa of the small intestine
and then spread via the blood and lymph
vessels. When the organism invades the
placenta the damage can result in
embryonal death, resorption,
mummification or abortion. Less
extensive damage results in premature or
weak full-term kids.

Chlamydia is usually spread during

kidding and is transmitted when goat
ewes are grazing plant material that has
been contaminated by afterbirth or
uterine fluid. Venereal transmission is
also possible when rams with infected
accessory sex glands transmit C. psittaci
in their semen. The infection can remain
dormant (carrier state) in the ewe kid until
she aborts for the first time. The disease
may also flare up when carrier animals
become stressed.

Clinical signs:

Flocks infected for the first time may have

up to 70% abortions. These can occur as
early as 3 months into pregnancy where
the foetus may be resorbed instead of
being expelled. After the initial abortion
‘outbreakʼ abortions may then be as low
as 5% in the flock and often go
undetected.

Small weak kids may be born that die

soon after birth. Kids can survive and
carry the disease. The ewe at no time
becomes ill although Chlamydia can be
the cause of infectious opthalmia - see
http://www.angoras.co.za/page/opthalmia
#120. It is unlikely that the same ewe will
abort again due to Chlamydia and hence
the reason why that after the initial
outbreak abortions are then often seen in
maiden ewes on a contaminated farm.

Chlamydia psittaci can cause a number of

disease conditions.

Placentitis, foetal death and abortion

Enteritis (diarrhoea)
Pneumonia
Polyserositis , polyarthritis (lamness)
Lymphadenopathy
Keratoconjunctivitis
‘aansteeklikeblindheidʼ
Meningoencephalitis
Epididymitis, orchitis, seminal
vesiculitis

Prevention:

Oil-based, inactivated vaccine is

produced by Onderstepoort Biological
Products (OBP) to prevent abortions
caused by chlamydial infection. It is
essential to vaccinate before the breeding
season, because the vaccine will not give
protection against abortion once the
foetus has been infected. The ideal time
is 4 to 6 weeks before the breeding
season.

What to do during an outbreak?

The question is often asked should one

vaccinate during an outbreak. The answer
is not to use a live vaccine during an
outbreak. If the cause was enzootic
abortion and ewes were already infected
prior to vaccination the vaccination would
not be effective and the vaccine itself
may be blamed for the abortions.

Ewes tested positive that are then

vaccinated may help decrease the
shedding of chlamydia.

The duration of immunity after

vaccination in goats in South Africa has
also not been tested.

During an outbreak the use of

Tetracycline antibiotic injections will help.
The problem with the antibiotic is that not
all the stages of the Chlamydophyla are
killed. Parts of the life cycle of the
Chlamydophyla are intracellular. The
antibiotic cover must therefore be
maintained until the ewe kids which
makes it expensive. It may however be
cost effective in valuable goats and where
pregnancy is advanced.