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Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus (view source)

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''Campylobacter fetus'' is a species belonging to the genus [[Campylobacter species- Overview|''Campylobacter'']].

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*Sporadic abortion in cows and sheep

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''C.fetus'' can cause sporadic abortion in cows and sheep and is the cause of 10% of ovine abortions in the UK.

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The bacteria is an enteric organism of sheep, goats and cattle and is spread by faecal-oral transmission. The ingestion of ''C.fetus'' during last trimester of pregnancy causes a bacteraemia.

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The bacteria can reach the uterus and necrotic placentitis causes late abortion, still birth or weak lambs. Aborted lambs may have round necrotic lesions on the surface of their liver.

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Aborting ewes are therefore a source of infection for vulnerable animals and up to 20% of a flock may abort.

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A solid immunity may be developed.

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*10% of ovine abortions in the UK

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==Diagnosis==

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*Enteric organism of sheep, goats and cattle; faecal-oral transmission

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*Ingestion during last trimester of pregnancy causes a bacteraemia

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*Bacteria reach the uterus

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*Necrotic placentitis causes late abortion, still birth or weak lambs

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*Sporadic abortion in cattle

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*Aborted lambs may have round necrotic lesions on surface of liver

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*Aborting ewes source of infection for vulnerable animals

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*Up to 20% of flock may abort

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*Solid immunity developed

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*S layer immunodominant antigen

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*Diagnosis~~: hepatic lesions in lambs; presence of organisms in foetal abomasum; isolation and identification~~

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*Treatment/control: isolate aborting ewes; destroy placenta; move other ewes to clean pasture; vaccinate flock with bacterin during outbreak and prophylactically; chlortetracycline in feed in an outbreak

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Campylobacter fetus or jejuni In ewes, causes abortion storms. Transmission is oral from faeces or aborted material and leads to late abortion, premature and weak lambs. See areas of focal hepatic necrosis in foetus.

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The presence of ''C.fetus'' may be diagnosed by; hepatic lesions in lambs; the presence of organisms in the foetal abomasum and isolation and identification of the bacteria.

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==Treatment and control==

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The aborting ewes should be isolated and other ewes should be moved to clean pasture. The placenta should be destroyed and the flock vaccinated with bacterin during the outbreak and prophylactically. During and outbreak, chlortetracycline should be in the feed.

Aimee.e.hicks

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