Oorsig/Review

Enzootic abortion of small ruminants

Prof. Leon Prozesky

Introduction

Losses due to reproductive failure, including

abortions, have a significant financial impact
on the profitability of stock farming. While it
is not unusual for some ewes to abort, flock
abortion rates more than (2-3 %) percent are
usually considered problematic and farmers are
encouraged to seek professional advice from their
veterinarians to establish a definitive diagnosis.
It is often not possible to identify the primary
cause of abortions and the international success
rate for this is approximately 30%. However,
by excluding the most important infectious
and where possible non-infectious causes, the
expenses incurred are justified. Reasons for the
low success rate are amongst others Fig 1. Necropsies conducted on aborted foetuses during a Rift
Valley Fever outbreak
• The event responsible for the abortions
occurred days/weeks /months earlier In South Africa, the most common infectious
• Usually no gross foetus lesions causes of sheep abortion are enzootic abortion
• Advanced foetal autolysis caused by Chlamydia abortus, Rift Valley
• Incorrect samples, particularly absence of fever, Wesselsbron disease, Brucellosis and
placental tissue Campylobacter spp. (vibriosis). Less common
• Other causes than infectious diseases causes include Bluetongue, Coxiella and
Salmonellosis. There are indications that the
The chances to identify the cause of the abortions incidence of enzootic abortion in small stock is
are significantly improved if a complete foetus increasing in South Africa, for amongst other
or preferably foetuses with placental tissue is reasons, non vaccination of livestock or the poor
submitted to a well- equipped laboratory with protection of vaccines against local strains of C.
experienced staff. abortus.

4

Classification and importance of
Chlamydia species of ruminants
Based on the latest taxonomic classification
Chlamydia species of ruminants are associated
with two distinct syndromes namely:
• Enzootic abortion caused by Chlamydia
abortus. Abortions or birth of weak lambs
frequently occur in the absence of other
so-called Chlamydia “syndromes” viz.
conjunctivitis, polyarthritis, gastroenteritis,
mastitis and meningoencephalitis.
• Sporadic abortion caused by Chlamydia
pecorum. This syndrome in ruminants is
characterised by outbreaks of conjunctivitis,
polyarthritis, gastroenteritis, mastitis and
meningoencephalitis and only sporadic
abortions.
Another separate Chlamydia specie, Chlamydia
psittaci, is not associated with abortions in
ruminants or with the other so-called Chlamydia
“syndromes” and is not considered a primary
lung pathogen of sheep or goats.
Epidemiology
Chlamydial abortion also known as enzootic
abortion of ewes or ovine enzootic abortion,
is a major cause of lamb mortality across the
world and is currently one of the most common
infectious causes of abortion in sheep and goats in
South Africa. It is caused by the bacteria C. abortus
which invades the placenta during pregnancy,
and which can lead to abortion or the birth of
weak lambs. Infection with C. abortus has both a
direct and indirect effect on the developing lamb.
Growth of the organism directly damages the
placenta and negatively affects the development
of the foetus resulting in late abortions or the
birth of weak infected lambs
The clinical consequences of infection are
determined by, amongst other causes, the timing
of infection, the immune status of the animal
and the number of organisms (infection dose).
When non- pregnant sheep, including young
lambs, become infected, they develop latency
in the uterus. Purchasing latently infected
sheep is probably the most common source of
initial infection in a flock. The stage at which
an infection is picked up during pregnancy will
determine the outcome as there is a lag period
between infection and onset of clinical signs. At
some point in mid pregnancy of infected ewes
an unknown trigger causes the organism to
become active resulting in a placentitis which
often results in abortions or the birth of weak
Volume 23 • Issue 02 • 2019
lambs. Organisms derived from infected birth
fluids and placentas from recently or latently
infected sheep are the main source of infection.
A small number of abortions usually occur in the
year after introduction of latently infected sheep
with a storm (due to infection spread to other
naive sheep within the flock) in the subsequent
year. Once an ewe has been infected, she becomes
immune, though will be a carrier of the disease in
subsequent years.
Understanding latent infection therefore is key
to disease control as it is important to realize
that infection in one year most often results in
abortion in the following year.
Clinical signs
In an infected flock first and second lamb ewes
are most susceptible to the disease. The ewe
shows no signs of illness. Flocks infected for the
first time may have an incidence of up to 70%
of abortions but drops to 1-5% once the disease
becomes endemic. Reproductive failure including
abortion, mummification, stillbirth (occasionally
one live lamb born along with a dead lamb) or
the birth of weak lambs (rarely survive) are often
experienced. It is common to have one or all these
syndromes on a farm at the same time.
Pathogenesis
A high level of environmental contamination
by infected ewes in lambing pens or fields is an
important source of infection for other animals
through ingestion and less commonly inhalation.
Following infection, C. abortus colonize the
intestine where they become established within
the intestinal mucosa. In pregnant animals
there is systemic spread from the intestinal
mucosal to the uterus and placenta. Initially
there is a localized placentitis at the level of the
placentomes at roundabout 100 days of gestation
Fig 2. Placental pathology is a hallmark of C. abortus infection.
Note the numerous chlamydia bacteria intermingled with
necrotic cells
5
Oorsig/Review
(mid pregnancy) without foetal involvement and
many abortions may occur at this stage. In other
instances, this initial placentitis is followed by
spreading to the surrounding placenta and foetus
and resulting in a bacteriaemia.
Fig 3. High magnification of a placenta invaded by numerous
chlamydia organisms
Animals which become infected and abort
often maintain protective immunity, explaining
the significant reduction in abortion rate in
endemically infected flocks. Rarely immune
animals may shed bacteria in uterine discharges
and placental tissues in subsequent pregnancies.
Pathology
Placental pathology is a hallmark of C. abortus
infection and is characterised by necrosis of the
cotyledon periphery with oedema and often
haemorrhages of the inter – cotoledonary tissue.
Numerous C. abortus organisms are present in
the affected placental tissue. Frequently only
placental pathology is evident in the absence of
any foetal pathology. Foetal lesions include an
interstitial pneumonia, hydrothorax and ascites,
haemorrhages of the subcutis, thymus and
lymph nodes, lymphadenopathy of mesenteric
lymph nodes and occasionally multifocal hepatic
necrosis.
Diagnosis
It is essential to confirm the diagnosis and
confirmatory tests include the following:
• Impression smears of placenta for Gimenez
stains.
• Placenta (cotyledonary and inter-
cotyledonary), liver, spleen, lymph nodes,
lung and brain in 10% buffered formalin for
histopathology.
• Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining for
Chlamydia antigen on formalin fixed tissues.
• Placenta and spleen (fresh tissue) for
Chlamydia antigen polymerase chain reaction
(PCR).
6
Control
• It is essential to vaccinate ewes 4 to 6 weeks
before the breeding season, as the vaccine will
not provide protection against abortion once
the foetus has been infected. An inactivated
vaccine is produced by Design Biologics to
prevent abortions caused by C. abortus. It is
not clear if this vaccine will protect animals
against C. pecorum infection. Laboratory
identification of the specific Chlamydia specie
is therefore vital in the control of the disease.
• Vaccination of sheep already infected with
C. abortus will not prevent abortions but can
reduce the incidence.
• Retaining sheep in herd after an abortion
episode is recommended by some authors.
Sheep that have aborted are immune,
probably for life, though they may shed
organisms in subsequent lambing’s.
• Aborted material and infected bedding must
be removed and destroyed.
• Biosecurity - Buying in latently infected sheep
is the principal initial source of infection.
• Maintaining a closed flock policy or
purchasing sheep from known enzootic
abortion free flocks.
• Medication - A long-acting oxytetracycline
injection (20 mg/kg) administered routinely
on approximately day 110 of pregnancy and
every two weeks for two to three occasions.
References
1. Buxton D et al. 2002. Ovine chlamydial abortion:
Characterization of the inflammatory immune
response in placental tissues. Journal of
Comparative Pathology 127:133-141.
2. Coetzer, JAW et al. 2004. Infectious diseases of
livestock, 2nd edition, Volume 1: 550-564
3. Entrician G et al. 2001. Chlamydial infection in
sheep: immune control versus fetal pathology.
Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 94:273-
277.
4. Giannitti et al. 2016. Chlamydia pecorum:
fetal and placental lesions in sporadic caprine
abortion. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic
Investigation 28:184-189.
5. Last R 2016 Update on Chlamydia abortion in
ruminants http://vet360.vetlink.co.za/update-
on-chlamydia-abortion-of-ruminants/
6. Njaa B L. 2012. Diagnosis of abortion and
neonatal loss in animals. 4th edn. Wiley-
Blackwell.
7. OIE Terrestrial Manual 2012. Enzootic Abortion
of Ewes.
8. Papp et al. 1993. Chlamydia psittaci infection and
associated infertility in sheep. Canadian Journal
of Veterinary Research. 57:1
9. https://www.sciencedirect.com/.../
chlamydophila-abortus Chlamydophila abortus-
an overview
10. https://faculty.tarleton.edu/.../
ChlamydialAbortions_Sheep_Goats.pdf · PDF file
Chlamydial Abortions in Sheep and Goats
 CPD AC/2130/19
Volume 23 • Issue 02 • 2019

SMS code: a74310

1. Flock abortion rates above which percentage is d. Chlamydia abortus, Rift Valley fever, Wesselsbron
considered problematic? SMSdisease,
code: Brucellosis
axxxxx and Campylobacter spp.
e. Vaccination with C. abortus vaccine.
a. 1%
b. 2-3% 7. Pathology of the placenta is characterised by?
c. 5-6%
d. 10% a. Lack of gross pathology.
e. 15% b. Necrosis of the cotyledon periphery.
c. Oedema and often haemorrhages of the inter –
2. The international success rate for identifying cotyledonary tissue.
the primary cause of abortions is approximately. d. A and B.
e. B and C.
a. 10%
b. 20% 8. Clinical signs are characterised by:
c. 30%
d. 40% a. An incidence of up to 70% of abortions which drops
e. 50% to 1-5% once the disease becomes endemic
b. Abortions and mummification of foetuses
3. The reason for the low success rate in making a c. Still births and weak lambs
definitive diagnosis in abortions is/are? d. All of the above
e. None of the above
a. The event responsible for the abortions occurred
days/weeks /months earlier 9. Which one of the following statements is false?
b. Usually no gross foetus lesions
c. Advanced foetal autolysis a. A high level of environmental contamination
d. Incorrect samples, particularly absence of by infected ewes in lambing pens or fields is an
placental tissue important source of infection for other animals
e. All of the above through ingestion and less commonly inhalation.
b. When non- pregnant sheep, including young
4. When is it essential for ewes be vaccinated lambs, become infected, they develop latency in
against Chlamydia abortus? the uterus
c. C. psittaci is a major cause of abortions in
a. After the ewes have become infected ruminant.
b. Only if a latent infection is present in the herd d. Growth of C. abortus directly damages the
c. 4-6 weeks before the breeding season placenta and negatively affects the development
d. Only after the ewes have been treated with a of the foetus resulting in late abortions or the
long acting Oxytetracycline birth of weak infected lambs.
e. Once the ewes are pregnant e. Organisms derived from infected birth fluids and
placentas from recently or latently infected
5. Which of the following statement(s) are true? sheep are the main source of infection

a. Once an ewe has become infected with 10. Which of the following statements are true?
Chlamydia abortus she becomes immune though
she will become a carrier of the disease. a. Vaccination of sheep already infected with C.
b. Sporadic abortion is caused by Chlamydia abortus will not prevent abortions but can
abortus. reduce the incidence.
c. The chances to identify the cause of the abortions b. Aborted material and infected bedding must be
are significantly improved if a complete foetus removed and destroyed.
or preferably foetuses with placental tissue is c. Buying in latently infected sheep is the principal
submitted to a laboratory initial source of infection.
d. A & C d. None of the above
e. A & B e. All of the above

6. In South Africa the most common causes of

abortion in sheep are?

a. Chlamydia psittaci
b. Bluetongue, Coxiella and salmonellosis.
c. Chlamydia pecorum

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