Salmonella Abortusovis

Salmonella Abortusovis is a bacterial pathogen that affects sheep, causing abortions and stillbirths in pregnant ewes and mortality in neonates. Abortion storms can occur when this organism is first introduced. The disease develops in the last weeks of pregnancy. Once it has become established in a flock, older ewes generally have good immunity, and abortions are typically limited to young or newly introduced animals.

Available epidemiological data indicated that Abortusovis serotype is rare in most countries and regions of the world except in Europe, where it is particularly common, with reported cases in France, Spain, Germany, Cyprus, Italy, Switzerland, Russia, and Bulgaria, southwest England and Wales and also in Western Asia.

Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar (serotype) Abortusovis, which is usually shortened to S. enterica serovar Abortusovis or S. Abortusovis, is a member of the Enterobacteriaceae. It is an aerobic, Gram-negative rod.

Although Salmonella Abortusovis is the serotype most frequently associated with ovine salmonellosis, especially in Europe and Middle East, other Salmonella serovars including S. Typhimurium and S. Dublin have also been described as causative agents of abortion.

Sheep can be infected by ingestion, or via the conjunctiva, respiratory tract or genital tract. Most infections are thought to be acquired by ingestion. Salmonella Abortusovis mainly occurs in vaginal discharges, the placenta, aborted fetuses and infected newborns, although it has been documented in milk and colostrum, and rarely in the testes or preputial fluid of rams. Respiratory secretions might be infectious in sick young lambs.
Salmonella Abortusovis