The first reported case of equine Nocardioform placentitis in New Zealand
Placentitis is cited as one of the leading causes of abortion in mares worldwide (Tengelsen et al. 1997; Smith et al. 2003; Laugier et al. 2011) Placentitismay also result in the delivery of weak or undeveloped foals that are at greater risk of perinatal mortality (Macpherson and Bailey 2008) Placentitis is most commonly associated with bacterial infection of the fetal membranes (Macpherson and Bailey 2008) Bacteria entering the uterus through the cervix, most likely as a result of poor perineal conformation, cause ascending placentitis. Breach of the normal protective seal made up of the vulva, vestibule, vagina and cervix causes infection and inflammation of the allantochorion. Ascending placentitis is most commonly caused by Streptococcus spp. Staphylococcus spp. and Escherichia coli (Hong et al. 1993; Laugier et al. 2011) Bacteria may also gain access to the placenta systemically.
New Zealand veterinary journal