Which organism is a recognized cause of abortion in sheep?

Which organism is a recognized cause of abortion in sheep?

• A. Brucella ovis
• B. Listeria monocytogenes
• C. Escherichia coli
• D. Campylobacter fetus

Answer: (D)

Abortion in sheep is commonly caused by infectious agents, with Campylobacter fetus being one of the best recognized bacterial causes. This organism tends to cause placental infection and fetal infection in late gestation, leading to abortion outbreaks that can affect many ewes in a flock. Transmission is typically via the fecal-oral route from contaminated feed, water, or the environment, and affected pregnancies often show placental inflammation (cotyledonary placentitis) and fetal infection. Management emphasizes biosecurity, proper sanitation, vaccination where available, and isolating or culling affected animals to reduce spread. Other organisms listed can cause related issues in sheep but are less characteristic for infectious abortion in this context. Brucella ovis mainly causes epididymitis in rams, not abortion in ewes; Listeria monocytogenes can cause abortion but is also strongly associated with feed-related listeriosis and other signs; E. coli is more commonly implicated in neonatal disease rather than causing abortion in mature ewes.

Abortion in sheep is commonly caused by infectious agents, with Campylobacter fetus being one of the best recognized bacterial causes. This organism tends to cause placental infection and fetal infection in late gestation, leading to abortion outbreaks that can affect many ewes in a flock. Transmission is typically via the fecal-oral route from contaminated feed, water, or the environment, and affected pregnancies often show placental inflammation (cotyledonary placentitis) and fetal infection. Management emphasizes biosecurity, proper sanitation, vaccination where available, and isolating or culling affected animals to reduce spread.

Other organisms listed can cause related issues in sheep but are less characteristic for infectious abortion in this context. Brucella ovis mainly causes epididymitis in rams, not abortion in ewes; Listeria monocytogenes can cause abortion but is also strongly associated with feed-related listeriosis and other signs; E. coli is more commonly implicated in neonatal disease rather than causing abortion in mature ewes.