Abortion caused by Coxiella burnetii in a sheep

Four cases of ovine abortion induced by Coxiella (C.) burnetii infection were diagnosed in four different flocks. Abortion of several animals occurred in short time, but human diseases were not detected in any cases. Serum sample was obtained from one ewe and it proved to be negative by serological investigation. The bacterium was detected in only two cases on the Stamp stained smears made from the cotyledon. Gross pathological changes were found in two cases on the fetal membrane, while histological lesions typical of the infection (purulent placentitis, hypertrophy of chorionepithelial cells containing large number of small cocci) were detected in all cases. Great amount of the bacteria was obvious in the cotyledon examined with immunohistochemical method. C burnetii infection is present in Hungary nowadays and sheep may be one of the main reservoir of the bacterium.