Diagnostic survey of bovine abortion in Korea: with special emphasis on Neospora caninum

Causes of bovine abortion were surveyed in Korea within a designated period from the cases submitted to the Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University. One hundred and eighty aborted fetuses and maternal sera were evaluated by necropsy, histopathology, bacteriology, virology, PCR, and serologic tests. The causes of abortion were identified in 108 (60%) cases, of which 38 (21.1%) were due to the infection with Neospora caninum. None of the 38 cases showed any co-infection with either virus or bacteria. Viral and bacterial causes were diagnosed in 28 (15.5%) and 13 (7.2%) aborted fetuses, respectively. Non-infectious causes such as multiple pregnancy, maternal weakness or torsion of umbilical cord were observed in 22 (12.3%) cases. Results of the present study suggest that N. caninum is believed to be the leading cause of bovine abortion in Korea. Thus, more attention should be paid to this emerging disease in Korea. However, the causes of many aborted fetuses remain undiagnosed in this study. Therefore, this enigma should be clarified through further studies such as chromosomal analysis.