Line 37: |
Line 37: |
| ===Pathology=== | | ===Pathology=== |
| | | |
| + | When infection in the |
| + | placentome is initiated, parasite multiplication causes |
| + | multiple foci of necrosis29. These foci of tissue |
| + | damage expand throughout the remainder of gestation |
| + | until abortion or birth when they may be macroscopically |
| + | visible as white spots in the cotyledons of |
| + | the shed placenta, a feature used to aid diagnozsis"31. |
| + | Diagnosis is also helped by histological examination |
| + | of the brain where there may be both primary |
| + | and secondary lesions32'33. Glial foci, surrounding a |
| + | necrotic and sometimes mineralized centre, often |
| + | associated with a mild lymphoid meningitis, represent |
| + | a fetal immune response following direct damage by |
| + | parasite multiplication. Focal leukomalacia is also |
| + | common and is thought to be due to fetal anoxia in |
| + | late gestation caused by advanced focal necrosis in |
| + | the placentome preventing sufficient oxygen transfer |
| + | from mother to fetus33. Focal inflammatory lesions |
| + | and associated diffuse lymphoid infiltrates may also |
| + | be found in the liver, lung and heart and less |
| + | frequently in kidneys and skeletal muscle33. |
| Aborted ewes show focal necrotic placentitis with white lesions in the cotyledons and foetal tissue | | Aborted ewes show focal necrotic placentitis with white lesions in the cotyledons and foetal tissue |
| | | |