EXTENSION ARTICLE Pakistan Vet. J., 2006, 26(1): 44-46.

MYCOTIC ABORTION IN CATTLE

R. ALI AND I. H. KHAN1

Army Veterinary School, Sargodha and 1Department of Theriogenology, University of

Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Mycotic abortion is an important reproductive problem of cattle all over the world. It is caused by a
number of different species of fungi and yeasts. The epizootiology of the disease is not clearly understood
but it is assumed that mouldy hay, straw and feeding stuffs are the most probable transmitting agents.
Mycotic abortions in cattle have been recorded usually after first 6 months of gestation. Aborted animals
usually suffer from retention of placenta. No treatment has yet been evolved for such abortions.

Key words: Mycotic abortion, cattle.

INTRODUCTION disperses Mortierella zychae, Mortirella wolfii,

Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida tropiculis, Nicardia
Bovine constitute an important part of livestock asterodies and Mortirellla wolfii.
sector in Pakistan. Being an agricultural country, about
67.5% of its population are living in rural areas and are MYCOLOGY
directly or indirectly linked with agriculture for their
livelihood. The role of livestock in rural economy may The chief fungus associated with mycotic abortion
be realized from the fact that 30-35 million rural is Aspergillus fumigatus, which has been recorded from
population are engaged in livestock raising especially over 60% of cases. Absidia ramosa and Absidia
cattle and buffaloe, deriving 30-40% of their income corymbifera are also frequent isolates, but the
from it (Economic Survey, 2002). Cattle and buffaloes remaining species are rarely reported. Fungi have been
are used for various agricultural operations. They also recovered from the placenta, amniotic fluid, foetal
provide animal proteins in the form of beef and milk for stomach contents and skin lesions. Very rarely have
human population. isolations been made from other organs of aborted
Abortion in cattle is a serious problem everywhere foetus.
in the world where these animals are reared. The Austwick and Vann (1957) found that the best
implication of fungi in abortion in cattle has received isolation method for foetal stomach contents was to
increasing attention during recent years and it is now smear them, using a glass spreader on to malt agar plate
recognized that mycotic infection contributes (containing 20 units of penicillin and 40 units of
significantly to the annual losses from abortion. streptomycin per ml) and incubate at 37ºC. Colonies
Although, there has been no record on this aspect frequently appeared within 24 hours depending on the
of abortion in Pakistan but in view of a high incidence species of fungus involved. Experimentally, abortion
of abortion, it is just possible that mycotic abortion does can be induced by inoculation of fungal spores
occur in this country. Mycotic abortion can cause great intravenously, abortion taking place 1-2 months after
economic loss to the stockholders and also a loss of inoculation. Experimental feeding of cultures of fungi
animal proteins to human population which is already has been shown to be ineffective.
facing a very serious problem of shortage of animal
proteins. EPIZOOTIOLOGY
Mycotic abortion, also known as fungal abortion or
mycotic placentitis, is caused by different species of Geographical distribution and transmission
fungi and yeasts. About 35 different species of fungi The disease has been reported from Europe, North
have been known to cause abortion, Aspergillus America, South Africa, Australia and parts of Asia. The
fumigatus being the most commonly diagnosed casual exact mode of transmission of mycotic abortion is not
organism (Jenson et al., 1993). Some of possible fully understood and route and source of infection
pathogens of mycotic abortion include: Mucor remain unknown. There are indications that infection is
rhizopodiformis, Absidia corymbifera, Absidia ramosa, originally derived from the spores of fungi present in
Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus large number in the mouldy hay, straw and feeding
terreus, Mucor psillus, Rhizopus arrhizus, Aspergillus stuffs and hence in the air of cowsheds (Ainsworth and
niger, Rhizopus boyinus, Allescherica boydii, Austwick, 1959). However, there is no evidence of
Aspergillus versicolnr, Kontospora lanuginose, animal to animal transmission of the disease.
Mortierella polycephala, Polystictus versicolor, Mucor Susceptible hosts include: cattle, sheep and mares.
44
 45 Pakistan Vet. J., 2006, 26(1): 44-46.
Factors influencing susceptibility DIAGNOSIS
It is assumed that housing of animals in relatively
confined spaces predisposes them to infection due to A provisional field diagnosis can be made by the
the presence of higher concentrations of fungal spores sporadic nature of the disease, with appearance of
in the air of cowsheds than that of its surroundings placental and foetal skin lesions. Abortions usually
(Turner, 1965). Pregnancy in a cow with metabolic occur late in pregnancy and the palcenta is usually
derangements from stress may predispose the pregnant retained.
cow to fungal infection (Dalling, 1966). Confirmation of mycotic abortion is made by
The incidence of the condition is high in late microscopical and cultural examination. Hyphae may
summer or early autumn, due to the presence of large be detected by direct examination of wet preparations
number of fungal spores in pastures during this period of affected cotyledons and abomasal contents. The
(Stableforth and Galloway, 1959). There is also fungi are isolated from abomasal contents and
cotyledons. Foetal stomach contents provide more
evidence of a winter rise of disease incidence. A study
useful material for culture and produce a pure growth of
conducted in New York State showed that abortions
causative organisms.
occurred after third month of pregnancy, with the peak
at 6 months and average 6.4 months. The average age Differential diagnosis
of aborting cows was 5.4 years. Diagnosis of mycotic abortion presents great
difficulties because a number of infectious and non-
SYMPTOMATOLOGY infectious agents are known to cause abortion in cattle.
Abortion resulting from various infectious causes must
In the experimental disease, a period of about one be differentiated from mycotic abortion. Confirmation
month lapses between intravenous inoculation of lies in the isolation of specific etiologic agent.
fungal spores and abortion, but natural incubation
period is unknown. No noticeable symptoms have been PROGNOSIS
recorded in the dam either before or after explusion of
dead foetus. A tentative clinical diagnosis can be made There is conflicting evidence regarding the effect of
on the pathological appearance of placenta and uterine fungal infection on the subsequent breeding
particularly the cotyledons and also on the presence of performance of the cow. Resumption of regular
foetal skin lesions. breeding is certainly not ruled out by mycotic abortion,
but there is not sufficient information to estimate the
PATHOLOGY future performance of an affected cow.

Pathogenesis TREATMENT
Principal entry of fungi is via the respiratory tract
and the route of infection is via the blood stream in the No clinical symptoms have been observed in the
lungs. Granulomatous lesions in the lungs could break dam either before or after abortion and no treatment has
down under stress, leading to invasion of blood vessels ever been given to the affected animals. To our present
with hyphae. Small ulcers in the forestomach and state of knowledge, very little is known about
abomasum in the cattle are well known and these may epizootiology of the disease and there appears to be no
become invaded by the fungi. Spread of infection to the suitable, nontoxic, anti-fungal agent available for
blood stream from such ulcers leads to either animal use.
pneumonia or placentitis (Roberts, 1971). Since the epizootiology of mycotic abortion is
obscure, evidence on the methods of control is
Lesions speculative. If mouldy hay and straw are assumed to be
The placenta shows characteristic changes. The the commonest source of infection, a careful watch on
placental lesions are chiefly concerned with the the quality of these materials is essential, so that any
adherence of maternal part of cotyledon to the chorionic sample that appears excessively dusty may be rejected.
part so that these organs appear as raised, solid, Dust has been shown to consist chiefly of fungal spores
yellowish, cushion-like structures, often with a raised of various types, but more especially the spores of
and thickened margin. Occasionally, the foetus shows mycotic abortion. Treatment of hay with some suitable
skin lesions in the form of diffused white hair on the fungicide during haymaking should be done in order to
flanks, neck, axilla and inside the backs. Histological reduce subsequent mould growth. Housing of animals
examination of the affected cotyledons shows extensive in relatively confined spaces should also be avoided
hyperaemia and haemorrhages in the early infection because some evidence indicates that air of over-
with scattered infiltration of polymorphonuclear crowded cowsheds is rich in spores of fungi and can
leukocytes and eosinophils. cause abortion.
 46 Pakistan Vet. J., 2006, 26(1): 44-46.
DISCUSSION Modern diagnostic laboratories with sufficient
technical staff should be instituted in the country for the
Bovine mycotic abortion causes great econmic diagnosis of this disease. The standards of service by a
losses to the individual farmer and cattle-breeding diagnostic laboratory are directly proportional to
industry as a whole. It is known that among the specimens, history submitted and condition of the
species of fungi isolated from different cases of specimen upon arrival. Therefore, all specimens must
abortion, at least Aspergillus fumigatus produces an
anti-bacterial substance which might kill any be properly packed.
pathogentic bacterium within or adjacent to foetus
but it is not thought that this provides a satisfactory REFERENCES
explanation to this type of abortion.
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route and source of infection remain unknown. Further Diseases of Animals. Agri. Burex, England, pp:
work is required on the port of entery of infection and 53-56.
level of spore intake which is likely to set up infection Austwick, P. K. C. and J. A. J. Vann, 1957. Routine
in susceptible animals. investigation into mycotic abortion. Vet. Rec., 69:
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