Monitoring different causal patterns of bovine abortion syndrome

Bovine Abortion Syndrome (Bas) has a significant impact on commercial dairies. Abortion rates vary between 2 and 20 % and there is little information regarding non-infectious factors affecting fetal stages. We analyzed the joint relationship of infectious and non-infectious factors with the probability of abortion in dairy cows. We used dairy cows from the Nuble province of Chile (n = 148) at 42 days of pregnancy. We then took monthly blood samples until abortion or calving. We determined plasma concentrations for the following: amino transferase, albumin, cholesterol, globulin, fibrinogen, beta-hydroxybutyrate, retinol, alpha-tocopherol, calcium, phosphorus, glutathione peroxidase, total proteins and urea. Serology was performed for infectious diseases and body conditions were recorded. Our study used a multivariable logistic regression model and proportional hazard regression. There was an (P < 0.05) association with abortion, (OR = 4.27) for Neospora caninum and (HR = 94.35) for Leptospira interrogans, with a low cholesterol concentration (P < 0.05) in the fourth month of pregnancy (OR = 0.61), and a decrease in body condition from month three to four (OR = 0.32). BAS is associated with negative energy balances, protective effects of high cholesterol plasma concentrations in the first trimester of gestation and incidences of Neospora caninum, Leptospira interrogans, and a conjunction of the two. It is important to provide epidemiological surveillance tools that help anticipate herd reproductive losses through management measures, infectious disease control and proper nutritional management.

Automated summary

BAS is associated with negative energy balances, protective effects of high cholesterol plasma concentrations in the first trimester of gestation, and incidences of Neospora caninum, Leptospira interrogans, and a conjunction of the two. It is important to provide epidemiological surveillance tools that help anticipate herd reproductive losses through management measures, infectious disease control, and proper nutritional management.