Abortion

Cattle, Sheep and Horses

If possible, submit the entire fetus and placenta, chilled, not frozen.

If the fetus cannot be submitted, send the following specimens:

• Tissue - Refrigerated tissues from the lung, liver, spleen, kidney, brain, placenta, and fetal thoracic fluid. Tissues fixed in formalin from the lung, liver, spleen, kidney, heart, brain, placenta and diaphragm.
• Placenta - The whole placenta is preferred but 3 or 4 fresh cotyledons and 1 or more cotyledons in formalin will suffice.
• Stomach content - 1-3 ml collected in a sterile container.
• Serum - Collect 3-5 ml serum from the dam and other aborting animals.

To send, place the fresh tissues in sterile plastic bags and chill or freeze. Use unbreakable, leak-proof containers for the formalin-fixed tissues. Ship in an insulated container with sufficient coolant, e.g. gel packs, to maintain refrigeration until the specimens arrive at the laboratory.

Notably for sheep, it is essential that placenta and/or fetal body cavity fluid or heart blood be submitted for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis and chlamydial infection.

Swine

Send the following specimens:

• Fetus and placenta - If possible, submit in their entirety, chilled, not frozen. Send up to 3 representative fetuses per litter. Include all mummified fetuses from the litter.
• Serum - Collect 1-3 ml serum from several affected sows (unaffected sows may be included for comparison).
• Stomach content - 1-3 ml collected in a sterile container.

Pack fetuses and placentas in sterile plastic bags and chill. Ship in an insulated container with sufficient coolant, e.g. gel packs, to maintain refrigeration until the specimens arrive at the laboratory.