Table 4 Standard and additional samples to collect from aborted and stillborn foetuses* for the investigation of infectious, nutritional and genetic causes of death
For investigation of | Standard samples | Ancillary samples | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
Failure of passive transfer of immunoglobulins | Perinate blood | NA** | Only test calves > 24 h old, e.g. ZSTT |
Foetopathogenic bacteria and fungi (e.g. Aspergillus spp., B. licheniformis, L. monocytogenes, T. pyogenes, S. Dublin) | Foetal stomach contents (FSC), Placenta | Foetal lung, liver, gall bladder, kidney, brain, eyelid. Dam vaginal swab, placentome, blood. | Ancillary samples where FSC/placenta unavailable/contaminated. |
Neospora caninum | Foetal brain, serum | Foetal heart. Placenta. Dam/cohort bloods | Fresh brain/placenta for PCR, fixed brain or heart/placenta for histopathology if PCR positive |
Leptospira Hardjo | Foetal kidney, serum | Dam/cohort bloods | Foetal sample dependent upon laboratory tests |
BVDv | Foetal ear, spleen, thymus, serum | Foetal kidney. Dam/cohort bloods | Foetal sample dependent upon laboratory tests |
BHV-I | Foetal liver, serum. | Foetal kidney. Placenta. Dam/cohort bloods | Foetal PCR/histopathology preferred tests |
Micronutrient deficiencies | Foetal thyroid, liver, heart, rib | Foetal kidney. Dam/cohort bloods | Thyroid for iodine assay/histopath; liver/kidney for selenium assay, heart for histopath; bone for manganese assay |
Gross lesions (e.g. foetal pneumonia) | Affected foetal organ | As required | As appropriate (e.g. bacteriology, histopath) |
Genetic congenital defect | Foetal muscle, skin | Dam hair follicles | Test for infectious teratogens also (e.g. BVDv, SBV) |