education

1. Abortion in sheep
Case study
Dr. Karima Al Salihi

2. Case history
• The farm involved in this study is located at Al Salman, about
290 km of Samaw, / Iraq. Sheep is grazing in the field land for
animals, other animals such as cow and camels were also
Grazing in this area.
• In late January 2018, an outbreak of abortion involving two ewes
in the flock was reported. This was followed two months later by
another incidence of abortion involving three ewes. In each case
the abortions occurred as short, sharp ‘storms’ at the third month
of gestation.
• No sheep had been introduced onto the farm since the
establishment of the flock.
• The animals had no history of vaccination; sheep and goats are
not vaccinated against brucellosis in Iraq.

3. Above the photo of ram with a symmetrical enlarged
testes.

4. Aborted
fetus

5. Results of the test of the
dam serum

6. Please discuss this case in details
including:
1. The suspected cause of abortion.
2. Name of the field test used to
diagnose of the disease.
3. Clinical signs.
4. Laboratory investigations
5. Treatment if presence.
6. Prevention and control