Mycotic abortion in ewes produced by Aspergillus fumigatus: intravascular and intrauterine inoculation
Pier, A.C.; Cysewski, S.J.; Richard, J.L.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 33(2): 349-356
1972
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9645 PMID: 4551085 Document Number: 48026
Mycotic placentitis was produced in 22 of 24 pregnant ewes by intravenous inoculation of 5X105 or more viable spores of Aspergillus fumigatus, and in 6 of 8 pregnant ewes inoculated with 2X102 or more spores by the uterine artery. Of the 28 ewes that developed mycotic placentitis after intravascular inoculation, 12 aborted, one produced a dead lamb near term, one contained a macerated foetus at P.M. examination, and six were examined before abortion could occur. The fungus was demonstrated in the stomach contents or tissues of 11 foetuses; all of these were associated with infected placentas, one foetus was macerated and seven were aborted. Placental infection was demonstrated one day after inoculation, the earliest time tested, whereas foetal infection was not demonstrated until 8 days after inoculation. Infection persisted in the placenta to the termination of pregnancy (or the end of the observation period), whereas A. fumigatus generally was cleared from extra-uterine maternal tissues. Viable elements of A. fumigatus were cleared from the bloodstream of both pregnant and non-pregnant ewes within 48 hours. The fungus was cultured from the ewes' lungs, liver and spleen frequently 1-4 days after inoculation, occasionally between days 5 and 9, and only once after day 11. Inoculation of A. fumigatus spores into the uterus at the time of breeding did not result in detectable abortion or mycotic placentitis. Normal pregnancy was completed in 9 of 11 ewes given fewer than 100 spores before breeding, whereas pregnancy was not detected in any of four ewes given more than 100 viable spores.