Factors associated with fetal losses in ewe lambs on a New Zealand sheep farm

Abstract

CASE HISTORY: As part of a production study of ewe lambs on a large farm in the Waikato region of New Zealand in 2011, pregnancy diagnosis was undertaken twice by trans-abdominal ultrasonography at 68–103 and 97–132 days of gestation. At the second pregnancy diagnosis 257/3,790 (6.8%) ewe lambs had evidence of non-viable fetuses or absence of a pregnancy that was present at the previous pregnancy diagnosis (fetal loss).

LABORATORY FINDINGS: Serum antibody titres for Leptospira interrogans serovar Pomona appeared generally higher in 10 ewe lambs with fetal loss compared with 10 that were still pregnant. Histopathological investigation was not able to confirm that fetal loss was associated with leptospial infection.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION: In the 2012-born cohort of ewe lambs 443 were vaccinated with a bivalent leptospirosis vaccine and 882 unvaccinated. Serum was collected from 124 non-vaccinated ewe lambs between January and December 2013 for measurement of antibodies to Leptospira serovar Pomona and L. borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo-bovis using a microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Less than 5% of these ewe lambs were seropositive until May, but by August 85% and 48% of animals were seropositive to Leptospira serovars Hardjo-bovis and Pomona, respectively.

Fetal loss in non-vaccinated ewe lambs was 78/882 (9%) compared with 23/443 (5%) in vaccinated ewe lambs. Combined data from the 2011- and 2012-born ewe lambs (n=5,115) were analysed using a logistic regression model and fetal loss as the dependent variable. In the final model fetal loss was associated with pre-mating bodyweight (p=0.003), weight change from pre-mating to initial pregnancy diagnosis (p<0.001), year born and leptospirosis vaccination status (p=0.013). Amongst the serologically monitored ewe lambs, there were associations between fetal loss and being seropositive to Leptospira serovar Pomona using titre cut-points of 1:48 and 1:768 (p<0.001).

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Low pre-mating weight and/or low weight gain from mating to pregnancy diagnosis was associated with increased fetal loss, emphasising the importance of ewe lambs achieving target pre-mating weights and liveweight gains during pregnancy. Infection with Leptospira serovar Pomona was associated with fetal loss in the 2012-born cohort and the possibility of infection with this serovar should be considered when investigating cases of fetal loss.

KEY WORDS:

• Fetal loss
• pregnancy loss
• leptospirosis
• sheep
• reproduction
• liveweight

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the flock owners and staff for their help, and Geoff Purchas and Neville Haack for technical assistance.

This investigation was funded by the C. Alma Baker Trust and part-funded by the Sustainable Farming Fund, Rural Women NZ, Beef + Lamb NZ, Federated Farmers NZ, AgMardt, New Zealand Veterinary Association, MSD Animal Health, Virbac Animal Health, Pfizer Animal Health and Massey University.

Notes

¹F. Hill, Gribbles Veterinary, Palmerston North, NZ.