Causes of caprine abortion: diagnostic assessment of 211 cases (1991-1998)

In an 8-year period, 1991-1998, 217 accessions of caprine abortions were submitted to the California Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System. Of these 217 submissions, 211 were suitable for examination in this study (6 had insufficient data). Infectious agents as the cause of abortions were found in 37% of the cases: bacterial agents were identified in 30.5%, viral agents in 2%, fungal agents in 0.5%, and protozoal agents in 4% of the cases submitted. The most common causes of abortions were Chlamydia psittaci and Coxiella burnetii infection, which accounted for 23% of all goat abortions. Mineral deficiencies were observed in 4%, fetal anomalies accounted for 3%, and leukoencephalomalacia of the brain (probable oxygen deprivation) accounted for 3% of the submissions. No diagnosis was made in 112 of the 211 submissions (53%). No lesions were noted in 104 of the submissions (49%). The other 8 submissions (4%) had histologic lesions suggestive of a bacterial agent; however, no infectious agents were identified in these cases.