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| | ===Pathology=== | | ===Pathology=== |
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| | + | 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 |
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