REDVET.

Revista electrnica de Veterinaria 1695-7504

2011 Volumen 12 Nmero 3
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Vol. 12, N 3 Marzo/2011 http://www.veterinaria.org/revistas/redvet/n030311.html

Foetal maceration associated with Brucella ovis

infection in a Yankassa ewe
1
Ate, I. U., 1Bello, A., 2Nenshi, P. M. 3Allam, L. and
1
Rashidat, M.
1
Department of Veterinary Surgery and medicine Ahmadu
Bello University, Zaria
2
Divisional Veterinary Office, Mutum Biyu, Ministry of
Agriculture and natural Resources, Taraba State
3
Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Ahmadu Bello University,
Zaria, Nigeria

Correspondence: Dr Iyorhemba Utim Ate, Department of Veterinary Surgery

and Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
utimphd@yahoo.com
08035006632; 08054517528

Abstract

A ewe considered to have been pregnant but later observed to have

persistent vaginal discharge and deteriorating body condition was
presented to the Ahmadu Bello University Veterinary Teaching Hospital
Zaria, Nigeria. The ewe died before a complete physical examination was
carried out and commencement of therapy. At postmortem, the greatly
asymmetric gravid uterus cut open had retained foetal bones and well
developed freshly - looking caruncles and lots of pus. The ipsilateral
ovary of the pregnant horn had a corpus luteum (CL). Direct microscopic
examination of uterine sample revealed microorganisms suggestive of
Brucella organism; and subsequent culture of same confirmed the
presence of Brucella ovis. The foetal death and/or maceration were
therefore believed to be associated with the Brucella ovis infection.

Foetal maceration associated with Brucella ovis infection in a Yankassa ewe

http://www.veterinaria.org/revistas/redvet/n030311/03118.pdf
REDVET. Revista electrnica de Veterinaria 1695-7504
2011 Volumen 12 Nmero 3

Introduction

In domestic animals, pregnancy loss may occur at any stage of gestation

(1). The loss may be associated with expulsion of the dead foetus before
term (abortion) or of a fully developed but dead fetus at term (stillbirth).
Sometimes, there is the failure of an aborting foetus to be expelled due
perhaps to uterine inertia and intrauterine infections resulting in foetal
emphysema and maceration (2). Under the circumstance, bacteria enter
the dilated cervix and by a combination of putrefaction and autolysis the
soft tissues are digested, leaving a mass of foetal bones within the uterus
(3, 4). These bones may be embedded within the uterine wall (5, 1)
resulting in a chronic endometritis and severe damage to the
endometrium (5).

Foetal maceration can occur in any species, but it has been most
frequently reported in cattle (1). The condition has been reported in cows
(4), mares (6), dogs (7, 1), cats (8), and women (9, 10). Only few cases
of foetal maceration have been reported in ewes (11, 12); and in Nigeria,
to the best of the knowledge of the researchers, foetal maceration has
not been previously reported in the ewe. This report is therefore a
documentation of this condition in a ewe which was associated with
Brucella ovis.

Case History

A ewe was presented to the Ahmadu Bello University Veterinary Teaching

Hospital Zaria with the complaint of persistent vaginal discharge and
unthriftness condition. The ewe was reported to have been pregnant
prior to the development of this condition. On physical examination, the
vital parameters of temperature, respiratory rate and pulse were normal.
Scanty foul smelling vaginal discharges were seen. The ewe
occasionally strained and her physical body condition was poor. Before
the completion of physical examination and commencement of therapy,
the ewe died. At postmortem, there was a greatly asymmetric gravid
uterus with single pregnancy in the right horn (Figure 1). The uterus was
cut open and retained foetal bones and well developed freshly - looking
caruncles were seen (Figure 2). A lot of pus material was present in the
uterus. The ipsilateral ovary of the pregnant horn had a corpus luteum
(CL). An aseptic uterine swab was taken. Direct microscopic examination
of the sample revealed microorganisms suggestive of Brucella organisms;
and subsequent culture confirmed the presence of Brucella ovis.

Foetal maceration associated with Brucella ovis infection in a Yankassa ewe

http://www.veterinaria.org/revistas/redvet/n030311/03118.pdf
REDVET. Revista electrnica de Veterinaria 1695-7504
2011 Volumen 12 Nmero 3

Figure 1

Figure 2

Foetal maceration associated with Brucella ovis infection in a Yankassa ewe

http://www.veterinaria.org/revistas/redvet/n030311/03118.pdf
REDVET. Revista electrnica de Veterinaria 1695-7504
2011 Volumen 12 Nmero 3

Discussion

Foetal maceration, together with foetal mummification, are considered an

overall abortion syndrome rather than separate and distinct entities, the
main characteristic being that the dead foetus remains in the uterus
requiring veterinary intervention for removal (5). When foetal death is
accompanied by loss of corpus luteum, opening of the cervix and entry of
autolytic and other bacteria, there is foetal decay in the uterus, and its
soft tissues broken down and passed as a foul vaginal discharge. In most
cases, the bones are too large to be passed out and are therefore
retained within the abdomen naturally preventing subsequent conception
(13). The condition can occur in full term fetuses that fail to leave the
uterus and this occurs especially in sows (13).

The retention of foetal bones in utero or in the vagina has been reported
in cows (4), mares (6), dogs (7, 1), cats (8), and women (9, 10). In the
ewe, few cases have been reported (11, 12). The incidence of foetal
maceration in ewes is considered to be as low as 0.13 1.8% (14). In
Nigeria, foetal maceration has not probably been reported in the ewe
before, and thus this report may be the first to be so reported.

The clinical signs seen in foetal maceration include foul smelling vaginal
discharge in animals that were thought to be pregnant, sharp bones in
the uterus or protruding from the cervix during rectal palpation (13), and
can be used for the diagnosis of the condition. The observation of scanty
foul smelling vaginal discharge in this case is thus in agreement with
the above observation. The presence of pus material seen in the uterus
in this case is also in agreement with the finding of Halat et al. (11).
Foetal maceration is usually associated with the loss of CL (13). In this
case however, just as reported by Halat et al. (11), there was the
retention of CL.

The diagnosis of this condition was as a result of the observation of foetal

bones, in the uterus, asymmetry of the uterus, presence of caruncles. In
live animals, the condition can be detected by ultrasonography and X
ray radiography (13, 1), and the by rectal palpation especially in large
animals.

In the literature, non specific bacteria including E.coli, streptococci,

Proteus and Pseudomonas have been associated with the foetal
maceration (15). In this case, the isolation of Brucella ovis means that
either the B. ovis was in itself the cause of both the abortion and
maceration or an earlier abortion due to some other cause took place
4

Foetal maceration associated with Brucella ovis infection in a Yankassa ewe

http://www.veterinaria.org/revistas/redvet/n030311/03118.pdf
REDVET. Revista electrnica de Veterinaria 1695-7504
2011 Volumen 12 Nmero 3

with the entry of the organism to cause the maceration. B. ovis is

associated with ovine abortion, even though the incidence of abortion
due to this organism is low (14). Due to the zoonotic significance of
brucellosis (16), the handling of aborting animals and their discharges
due to this organism should be done with the utmost care and
precaution. Abortions usually occur the last trimester of pregnancy. The
prognosis for future fertility and reproductive life of the affected animal is
guarded.

It is possible that there are cases of foetal maceration in ewes and other
livestock in the area which go unnoticed or undiagnosed. It is therefore
suggested that veterinarians pay more attention to the possibility of this
infertility condition in our livestock.

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the client for reporting this case, and the
management of the Ahmadu Bello University Veterinary Teaching
Hospital, Zaria Nigeria, for allowing the publication of this case report.

References

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2011 Volumen 12 Nmero 3

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REDVET: 2011, Vol. 12 N 3

Recibido 10.08.2010 / Ref. prov. AGO1018_REDVET / Revisado 18.11.2011 / Aceptado 10.01.2011
Ref. def. 031108_REDVET / Publicado 01/03/2011

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Foetal maceration associated with Brucella ovis infection in a Yankassa ewe

http://www.veterinaria.org/revistas/redvet/n030311/03118.pdf