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PERINATAL LAMB MORTALITY IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA 3. Congenital Infections
Author(s) -
Dennis S. M.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
australian veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1751-0813
pISSN - 0005-0423
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1974.tb14056.x
Subject(s) - abortion , brucellosis , enzootic , medicine , pregnancy , veterinary medicine , pediatrics , biology , immunology , virus , genetics
Summary Infectious abortion was diagnosed on 14.5% of the 695 participating farms from 225 districts scattered throughout the agricultural area of Western Australia. Major congenital pathogens were diagnosed on 9.6% of the farms: vibriosis 48, listeriosis 14, brucellosis 4, toxoplasmosis 4, salmonellosis 2, and enzootic abortion was suspected on 1. Five abortions were due to concurrent infections. Vibriosis was the most important and widespread abortion disease in sheep in the State. Listeriosis, toxoplasmosis and brucellosis were diagnosed for the first time in Western Australia as a cause of abortion in 1963. Miscellaneous congenital pathogens were diagnosed on 4.9% of the farms; these were corynebacteria 12, streptococci 7, pasteurellae 5, staphylococci 3, E. coli 3, and other species 4. Forty‐four (6.3%) of the abortions were undiagnosed. It was concluded that congenital infections were widespread in the agricultural area of Western Australia and it was estimated that they were responsible for one‐fifteenth of the perinatal lamb mortality.