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PubMed1991

Brucella abortus-associated meningitis in aborted bovine fetuses.

Granulomatous meningitis was present in 6/33 bovine fetuses from which Brucella abortus (B. abortus) had been isolated. Meningitis was severe in three fetuses, moderate in one fetus, and mild in the remaining two fetuses. The meningitis was characterized by the infiltration of a mixed population of lymphocytes, plasma cells, and macrophages in the leptomeninges. Vasculitis characterized by the infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma cells in the vascular wall was observed in the vessels of the cerebral cortices of 4/6 fetuses. Gram negative coccobacilli were present in the cytoplasm of the leptomeningeal macrophages and extracellularly. Brucellar antigens labeled by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method were present in massive amounts in leptomeningeal macrophages and in small foci of stained cells in the choroid plexus and ependyma. The findings indicate that B. abortus is one of pathogens capable of inducing meningitis in bovine fetuses.

Abortion, Veterinary↗
PubMed1994

Transplantation of cholinergic-rich spinal tissue from spontaneously aborted human fetuses into a rodent model of Alzheimer's disease.

The results from this study provided the first piece of evidence that intrahippocampal transplants of cholinergic-rich spinal grafts derived from a human fetus can ameliorate the performance of fornix lesioned rats in both spatial reference memory and spatial navigation tasks. Although many questions remain to be answered, these results point to the therapeutic potential of human fetus-derived cholinergic-rich grafts in treating spatial memory impairments.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1991

Abortion of a sow caused by Pasteurella aerogenes.

Three strains of the Pasteurella aerogenes complex were isolated as sole pathogens from aborted fetuses of a sow aborted at the 12th week of gestation on a farm of 600 sows. Gross pathology showed no characteristic lesions. The isolates were biochemically identical and resembled P. pneumotropica on the basis of their strong indole and urease positivity but they produced gas, were ornithine decarboxylase negative and fermented mannitol but not trehalose. Only a few differences were apparent in biochemical characteristics between the isolated strains and P. aerogenes. They differed from the type strain of P. aerogenes in ornithine decarboxylase activity, indole production and lactose and mannitol fermentation; however, such strains do occur within this heterogeneous species. At the time of abortion the antibody titre of the aborted sow was 1 in 16 when examined with live bacterial suspension and 1 in 128 if boiled antigen was used. Similar strains could not be isolated from the vaginas of aborted sows or pregnant and newly farrowed sows in the same group. The bacteriological, serological and histological findings support the opinion of other workers on the occasional pathogenic nature of P. aerogenes.

Abortion, Veterinary↗
PubMed1996

Non-invasive perinatal necropsy by magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND: AT present necropsy is done in less than 60% of cases of perinatal death in the UK, despite the value of the procedure to the bereaved parents and their doctors. This low rate reflects the difficulty in discussing the examination during the acute distress after the death of a baby, and the personal and religious objections of many parents to necropsy. We compared post-mortem magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the fetus with internal perinatal necropsy to assess whether MRI examination is a feasible option for the 40% of cases where consent for necropsy is not given or requested. METHODS: We examined 20 stillborn, miscarried, or aborted fetuses by MRI and necropsy. Scanning was done in a 1.5 T system, in accordance with our protocol, immediately before necropsy. The MRI and necropsy findings were compared to assess how much diagnostic information was obtained by each technique. FINDINGS: In eight of the 20 cases the two examinations were in total agreement about the abnormalities present. In eight cases the necropsy provided more detailed information than MRI examination, but in four cases the MRI information was more extensive than that obtained at necropsy. In two of the latter cases, abnormalities of the central nervous system were seen only on MRI. Thus, in 12 (60%) of the 20 cases studied, MRI had equivalent or better diagnostic sensitivity than internal necropsy examination; in 18 (90%) of the 20 cases the two examinations were of similar clinical significance. INTERPRETATION: MRI of the stillborn or aborted fetus provides non-invasive access to information previously available only from necropsy.

Autopsy↗
PubMed1994

Omphalocele in aborted and full-term dairy calves: A case series.

This case series describes the occurrence of omphalocele in 19 calves (8 aborted fetuses, 11 dead perinates) on 8 Irish dairy farms. Sixteen cases were recorded on 6 research farms monitored over a 9-yr period (1985 to 1993), representing 6.90, 1.45 and 0.10% of 116 aborted fetuses, 553 dead perinates and 7,751 full-term calves, respectively. Three cases in perinates were recorded on 2 out of 31 commerical dairy farms monitored in 1991, representing 1.76 and 0.11% of 170 dead perinates and 2,631 full-term calves, respectively. Eleven calves had an enterocele, 5 had a partial abomasocele and 3 had multiple organ eventration. Affected calves (13 singletons and 6 twins) were sired by 15 bulls (14 artificial breeding, 1 natural breeding) of 3 breeds (Holstein - Friesian, Hereford and Simmental). The dams (14 pluriparae and 4 primiparae) were all Holstein-Friesian. The aetiology of this congenital defect was not determined.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1991

Isolation of encephalomyocarditis virus among stillborn and post-weaning pigs in Quebec.

Encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus was isolated from aborted fetuses and lungs of suckling pigs from three Quebec pig farms that experienced outbreaks of reproductive failure in sows and respiratory problems in suckling and post-weaning piglets. Multifocal interstitial pneumonia and mild non-suppurative myocarditis and meningoencephalitis were the more significant histopathological lesions observed in piglets. Vero cells were found to be more sensitive than BHK-21 cells and pig cell lines for primary isolation of EMC virus. The Quebec EMC virus isolates were highly virulent for mice and were antigenically related to reference strain of EMC virus as demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence, seroneutralization and Western immunoblotting. Specific virus neutralization antibody titers up to 1:12,800 were detected in samples of thoracic or abdominal fluids of the aborted fetuses.

Abortion, Veterinary↗
PubMed2004

Blockade of CD86 signaling facilitates a Th2 bias at the maternal-fetal interface and expands peripheral CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells to rescue abortion-prone fetuses.

Intervention in B7 (CD80/CD86)/B7-ligand (CD28/CTLA-4) pathways is an effective way of preventing unwanted immune responses, such as allograft rejection. Pregnancy maintenance represents maternal tolerance to the fetal allograft, which is accompanied by a type 2 helper cell (Th2) bias at the maternal-fetal interface. Here, the costimulatory signal of CD86 was selectively blocked, and that of CD80 was kept unimpaired by administration of anti-murine CD86 monoclonal antibody at the early gestational stage in abortion-prone CBA/JxDBA/2 matings and normal pregnant CBA/JxBALB/c matings. It was demonstrated that in vivo blockade of CD86 costimulation could suppress maternal immune attack to the fetus by shifting cytokines from Th1 predominance to Th2 bias at the maternal-fetal interface, and expanding peripheral CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells, which play an important role in the development and maintenance of maternal-fetal tolerance. Furthermore, the expression of CD28 and its ligands CD80/CD86 on peripheral lymphocytes was down-regulated, whereas that of CTLA-4 was up-regulated, which might facilitate the suppressive effect of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells on the alloreactive T cells. The maternal-fetal immunotolerance induced by CD86 blockade decreased fetal resorption in CBA/JxDBA/2 matings, but did not affect normal pregnant CBA/JxBALB/c matings. These results suggest that selective blockade of CD86 costimulation leads to maternal immune tolerance to embryo antigen, and might contribute to a rational immunoregulatory regimen for recurrent spontaneous abortion.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed2004

Rearranged genomes of bovine blood cells can allow the development of clones till late fetal stages; but rare unrearranged genomes have greater potential and lead to adulthood.

Cloning via nuclear transfer is promising, but rather inefficient. Moreover, to date, relatively few data are available for a satisfactory phenotypic and genotypic characterization of the clones. Here, we analyze the genomes of clones derived from bovine peripheral blood mononucleated cells (PBMC), known to be composed mainly by lymphocytes. Their genomes are rearranged at either the immunoglobulin (Ig) or the T-cell-receptor (TCR) loci. The DNA of the single survivor and of four aborted fetuses were amplified by semi-quantitative PCR and sequenced. We found the expected rearrangements in DNA from lymphocytes, but neither in DNA from chondrocytes of the survivor, nor in DNA from brain cells of three of the aborted fetuses. This indicates that these four clones derived from somatic cells bearing unrearranged genomes and suggests that in a population of variably differentiated cells those harbouring unrearranged genomes are better donors. Brain cells of the fourth fetus present rearrangements at both loci. The sequences of these rearrangements differ from those obtained from PBMC because they appear unique, thus confirming the clonal origin of the fetus from a cell bearing a rearranged genome. To our knowledge, this is the first example in which both the placenta and the soma of a late fetus are coded for by the rearranged genome of a terminally differentiated cell, unambiguously identified through a specific genetic marker.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

The use of beef bull semen reduced the risk of abortion in Neospora-seropositive dairy cows.

There is an evidence that the epidemiology of neosporosis differs in dairy and beef cattle, such that beef cattle carry a lower risk of abortion. The aim of the present study was to establish whether artificial insemination using semen from beef bulls could reduce the risk of abortion in dairy cows seropositive for the Neospora caninum parasite. Our study was based on yearly serological screening for neosporosis and on the confirmation of Neospora infection in aborted fetuses in two high-producing dairy herds with a mean 28% seroprevalence of N. caninum antibodies. The study population comprised of 273 pregnancies in seropositive animals: 156 pregnancies monitored after insemination using Holstein-Friesian semen and 117 after insemination using beef bull semen. Abortion rates for these animals were 28.2% (77 of 273), 34.6% (54 of 156) and 19.7% (23 of 117). Logistic regression analysis indicated no significant effects of lactation number and previous abortion on the abortion rate. Based on the odds ratio, a 1-unit increase in the Neospora antibody titre yielded a 1.01-fold increase in the abortion rate. The likelihood of abortion was two times higher for cows in one of the two herds and 2.8 times lower (one of 0.36) for pregnant cows inseminated with beef bull semen rather than Holstein-Friesian semen. Our results indicate that the use of beef bull semen can reduce the risk of abortion in dairy cows, and suggest that annual screening for neosporosis, specifically the antibody titre to the protozoan, could be an useful predictor of abortion risk in reproductive health programmes.

Aborted Fetus↗
PubMed2006

Parenteral vaccination of domestic pigs with Brucella abortus strain RB51.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the immunogenicity and efficacy of Brucella abortus strain RB51 (SRB51) as a vaccine in domestic pigs. ANIMALS: Sixty-eight 6-week-old crossbred domestic pigs and twenty-four 4-month-old gilts. PROCEDURES: In experiment 1, pigs were vaccinated IM (n = 51) with 2 x 10(10) CFUs of SRB51 or sham inoculated (17). Periodic blood samples were obtained to perform blood cultures, serologic evaluations, and cell-mediated immunity assays. Necropsies were performed at selected times between weeks 1 and 23 after vaccination to determine vaccine clearance. In experiment 2, gilts were similarly vaccinated (n = 18) or sham inoculated (8) and similar samples were obtained after vaccination. Gilts were bred and challenged conjunctivally with 5.0 x 10(7) CFUs of virulent Brucella suis strain 3B. Necropsies were performed on gilts and on fetuses or neonates after abortion or parturition, respectively. Bacterial cultures and serologic evaluations were performed on samples obtained at necropsy to determine vaccine efficacy. RESULTS: Humoral and cell-mediated immune responses did not differ between vaccinates and controls. After vaccination, SRB51 was not isolated from blood cultures of either group and was isolated from lymphoid tissues of 3 pigs at 2 weeks (n = 2) and 4 weeks (1) after vaccination. No differences were found in isolation of B suis or in seroconversion between vaccinated and control gilts and between their neonates or aborted fetuses. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Parenteral vaccination with SRB51 does not induce humoral or cell-mediated immune responses. Vaccination with SRB51 did not protect gilts or their neonates and fetuses from virulent challenge with B suis.

Abortion, Veterinary↗
PubMed1989

[Pathologic consequences of a severe influenza outbreak (swine virus A/H1N1) under natural conditions in the non-immune sow at the beginning of pregnancy].

Pathological consequences of a severe outbreak of swine influenza (H1N1 virus) in the non immune sow at the beginning of pregnancy, under natural conditions. A sudden acute outbreak of fever, depression, anorexia and coughing in a group of nulliparous sows from a herd that was currently under epidemiological investigation lead to build a particular disposal of observation. The clinical signs were daily recorded including rectal temperature. Blood was taken from the sows at the beginning of the troubles and 3 weeks later for the detection of Aujesky's disease, coronavirus TGE-like, Influenza viruses A/H1N1 and A/H3N2 and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. Viral detection was attempted from nasal swabs and aborted fetuses during the acute phase. The clinical study showed fever reaching near 41 degrees C on most of the pigs and lasting usually from 2 to 5 days. The diagnosis of Influenza (virus swine H1N1) was established both on serology (massive seroconversion) and on the detection of the virus from the nasal swabs and from an aborted fetus. The control of the lungs of sows "not in pig" and culled showed extended lesions of bronchopneumonia and Pasteurella multocida was found. The technical consequences of this severe outbreak of Influenza on reproduction were mainly important at the beginning of pregnancy. Over 13 sows inseminated less than 1 week before the outbreak, only 3 farrowed (respectively 5.5 and 12 piglets); 7 returned to oestrus and 3 "not a pig" at 21 days (echotomography) did not show signs of heat and were culled. Over 8 pregnant sows (1 month of pregnancy), 6 farrowed normal litters and total embryonic resorption occurred in 2 sows. Over 18 pregnant sows (more than 45 days gestation) one aborted.

Abortion, Veterinary↗
PubMed1998

Abortion in foxhounds and a ewe flock associated with Salmonella montevideo infection.

Salmonella montevideo is a recognised cause of ovine abortion and can cause disease in other domestic animals and humans. The organism was isolated from the aborted fetuses of a bitch from a pack of foxhounds. The subsequent collection of rectal swabs from the foxhounds at approximately two week intervals over a 48-day period resulted in the isolation of S montevideo from 50 of the 61 hounds in the pack on one or more occasions. Some of the hounds had gained access to an open pit containing dead ewes and aborted fetuses on a farm where the housed ewe flock was experiencing S montevideo infection. The S montevideo isolates from both the ovine and canine samples had a plasmid of 120 kilobases with an identical restriction endonuclease fragmentation pattern. The only other isolate from a contemporary outbreak lacked this plasmid. It was concluded that this case offered further evidence of the potential for salmonella infection to be spread by the scavenging of carcasses.

Abortion, Veterinary↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Absence of a gene dose effect for collagen type I and III in fibroblasts with trisomy of chromosome 7 from a spontaneously aborted human fetus].

Collagen production was studied in human embryonal fibroblasts. Synthesis of collagen in the cells with trisomy 7 was decreased 2-fold as compared with diploid cells in spite of 50% increase of the collagen genes localized on the chromosome 7. Diploid and aneuploid cells synthesized collagens of the I and III types at similar weight ratios. At the same time, an increase in synthesis of type I collagen trimer was found in culture of cells with anomalous caryotype. A decrease of collagen production in cells with anomalous caryotype appears to be one of the reasons responsible for spontaneous abortion.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed2004

Determination of an optimized cut-off value for the Neospora agglutination test for serodiagnosis in cattle.

A definitive diagnosis of neosporosis in cattle implies the examination of the aborted fetus. However, in many instances fetal material is not available. Therefore, most diagnosis are based on serological tests. At the moment, there are no consensuses about the cut-off for serodiagnosis of neosporosis in cattle, for any test. The objective of the present study was to estimate the best cut-off for the Neospora agglutination test (NAT) for serodiagnosis in cattle. For that purpose, 246 serum samples from 4 groups of dairy cows (aborted Neospora positive; not aborted healthy; aborted other diseases and herds endemic neosporosis) were collected and antibodies anti-N. caninum were determined by NAT. Additionally, immunoblot (IB) was performed with sera from all cows of the endemic neosporosis group and the patterns of seroreactivity were contrasted with the NAT titers for this group of cows. Evaluation of the optimized sensitivity and specificity was calculated using Youden's J-statistics. The best Youden's J-statistic was obtained at 1:40 titer, presenting 100% of sensitivity and 90.4% of specificity with negative and positive predictive values of 100 and 75.0%, respectively. The comparison between NAT titers and the IB banding pattern support the results of the statistical analysis, i.e. titers of 1:40 and higher showed a complex pattern of bands, while titers lower than 1:40 did not precipitate any bands. These results indicate that 1:40 was an optimized NAT cut-off for serodiagnosis in cattle.

Aborted Fetus↗
PubMed1991

Outbreaks in Quebec pig farms of respiratory and reproductive problems associated with encephalomyocarditis virus.

Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) was isolated from tissues of aborted fetuses and weaned and suckling piglets from 4 different pig farms in Quebec. The farms were experiencing reproductive failure in sows of different parities concomitant to respiratory problems in suckling and postweaning piglets. At necropsy, gross lesions were confined to the lung and consisted of pulmonary congestion and edema of various degrees. Lesions of multifocal interstitial to proliferative pneumonia were found in the lungs of these piglets. Bacteriologic examination of various tissues from necropsied pigs yielded no pathogens in most cases. No significant antibody titers against 3 swine viruses (transmissible gastroenteritis virus, porcine parvovirus, and swine influenza virus) and two bovine viruses (bovine viral diarrhea and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis viruses) were detected in the sera of convalescent pigs. The Quebec EMCV isolates were antigenically related to the reference ATCC-VR129 strain of EMCV, as demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence, serum neutralization (SN), and Western immunoblotting. However, one of the Quebec isolates could be distinguish by SN. EMCV-specific SN antibody titers up to 1:12,800 were detected in thoracic and ascitis fluids of aborted fetuses and in sera of convalescent pigs. A possible pneumotropic EMCV variant in swine may exist.

Abortion, Veterinary↗
PubMed1993

Mast cells in human optic nerve.

PURPOSE: Mast cells are classically found in ocular tissues within the conjunctiva, choroid, and iris. The aim of this study was to examine their distribution in the optic nerve and its meninges. METHODS: Sixty-six human optic nerves were studied from normal subjects at autopsy, fetuses aborted for chromosomal abnormalities, and from enucleation specimens of patients with a variety of inflammatory, traumatic, neoplastic, and vascular disorders. Mast cells were identified using a stain for the enzyme chloroacetate esterase, and confirmed using toluidine blue, revealing metachromatic cytoplasmic granules. RESULTS: Mast cells were found scattered in the meninges of almost all optic nerves examined, frequently in perivascular locations, with densities up to 2325 mast cells/mm3 (mean 269.7 +/- 64.1 cells/mm3 in normal nerves). Mast cells were found in the optic nerve parenchyma in nerves from four eyes that had severe abnormality, often associated with neovascularization. Normal nerves, as well as nerves from fetuses aborted for congenital defects, had significantly fewer meningeal mast cells than those from eyes with inflammatory or vascular diseases. Degranulation of mast cells was observed more often in eyes with recent severe trauma. CONCLUSIONS: Based on their work and the work of others suggesting an association between mast cells and nervous system autoimmune disorders, the authors hypothesize a role for optic nerve mast cells in certain ocular inflammatory conditions.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The use of human fetal tissue: scientific, ethical, and policy concerns (January 1990)

The use of fetal tissue in transplants for treating illnesses such as Parkinson's disease and juvenile diabetes has raised the hopes of patients, their families, and the biomedical community. But, this practice has created considerable controversy. Concerns arise because tissue is usually obtained from electively aborted fetuses. Despite the controversy, there has been little systematic and sustained examination of the ethical and policy issues posed by the use of fetal tissue in biomedicine. The lack of information and analysis hampers serious discussion. In the Spring of 1988, the Center for Biomedical Ethics began an interdisciplinary research project on the scientific, ethical, and policy issues raised by the use of fetal tissue in biomedicine. Twenty-five scholars, drawn mainly, but not exclusively, from the faculty of the University of Minnesota, met to undertake the study. The members of this research group included experts in neonatology, pediatrics, neurology, neurosurgery, organ transplantation, tissue procurement, cell biology, immunology, epidemiology, law, philosophy, moral theology, and the behavioral sciences. The group met every three weeks over a period of ten months to collect and review information about the use of fetal tissue -- with special attention to transplantation -- the potential sources of fetal tissue, and the relevant laws and guidelines in the U.S. and other nations. Six members of the research group had primary responsibility for writing this report.

Aborted Fetus↗