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Summary
IgG and IgM in serum from 164 aborted and 59 abattoir foetuses were measured by radial immuno-diffusion. Ig was detected in 133 (81.1%) aborted and 6 (10.2%) abattoir foetuses. The difference was statistically significant (P<0.01).
More than 20 mg/100 ml IgG was found in 90 (54.9%) aborted foetuses and 1 (1.7%) abattoir foetus. More than 20mg/100 ml IgM was present in 62 (37.8%) aborted foetuses and 2 (3.4%) abattoir foetuses. In each case the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01).
The mean concentration of IgG was 128 mg/100 ml in the aborted and 13 mg/100 ml in abattoir foetuses. The mean concentration of IgM was 34 mg/100 ml in aborted foetuses and 1.4 mg/100 ml in abattoir foetuses.
Tissues from 143 aborted foetuses were examined histologically. Serum from 86 of the 143 had more than 20 mg/100 ml IgG, IgM or both; of these, 79 (91.9%) had well defined or possible lesions. No lesions were detected in 7 (8.1%).
Serum from 32 of the 143 foetuses had 1 to 20 mg/100 ml IgG, IgM or both. Well-defined or possible lesions were seen in 24 (75.0%) of these. No lesions were detected in 8 (25.0%).
Serum from 25 of the 143 foetuses had no detectable Ig. Of these, 11 (44.0%) had well defined or possible lesions. No lesions were seen in 14 (56.0%).
If results of further investigation indicate the foetus does not frequently produce excess Ig in response to stimuli other than intrauterine infection, then measuring foetal Ig by RID may prove valuable as a first step in diagnosing infectious bovine abortion.