Causes of abortion in Khorassan Province--Mashad

The aim of this paper is to analyse the cause of abortion and postnatal deaths in sheep on the basis of laboratory examinations. For serological examination against brucellosis and salmonellosis 899 blood samples were collected. From all tested sera 411 (45.7%) were positive to Brucella melitensis antigen and only 10 (1.11%) to Salmonella abortus ovis antigens. Bacteriological examination were done with 50 lambs, 143 aborted foetuses and 46 vaginal swabs. Brucella melitensis was stated in 7.6% in aborted foetuses and 8.69% in vaginal swabs. Salmonella abortus ovis was isolated in 59.44% in aborted foetuses, 34% in lambs and 30.34% in vaginal swabs. E. coli infection was seen in foetuses (0.7%), in lambs (34%) and in vaginal swabs (28.3%). Enzootic abortion of ewes (EAE) were not observed.