VIROLOGICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL FINDINGS IN ABORTED FETUSES IN NORTHERN BAVARIA

The cause of abortion, from the examination of 204 bovine fetuses, was attributed to bacterial or mycotic infections in 18. 1 per cent. The percentage distribution of the micro-organisms isolated was: Actinomyces pyogenes (3.4%); Staphylococci intermedius or aureus (2.5%); Escherichia coli (2.0%); Campylobacter fetus intestinalis (1.0%); Listeria monocytogenes (1.0%); Salmonella enteritidis (0.5%); Pseudomonas aeruginosa (0.5%); Clostridium perfringens (0.5%); Coxiella burnetii (2.0%); Chlamydia psittaci (0.5%); Aspergillus fumigatus (3.4%); mucor species (1.0%) and in 6.9% of all cases only non-cytopathic bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) was isolated. No growth occurred in 30%, and no bacterial growth in 52%, of fetuses. In 75% of abortions, no infectious agent was identified. The importance of non-infectious bovine abortion is discussed.