Causes of bovine abortion diagnosed by the Sector of Veterinary Pathology of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in the years 2003-2011

Descrevem-se as causas de aborto bovino diagnosticadas no Setor de Patologia Veterinária da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul no período de janeiro de 2003 a dezembro de 2011. Um total de 490 fetos bovinos foi analisado neste período. Causas específicas de aborto foram encontradas em 46,7% dos casos. Infecções por protozoários, em especial Neospora caninum acometeram 33% dos casos (162/490). Bactérias com 6,3% (31/490), seguidas por fungos com 0,8% (4/490) dos casos, foram causasThe main causes of abortion in cattle diagnosed from January 2003 to December 2011 are described. A total of 490 fetuses from several Brazilian states were evaluated. Specific causes of abortion were found in 46.7% of the cases,and protozoan abortions, especially by Neospora caninum, were detected in 33% (162/490). Bacterial abortions corresponded to 6.3 % (31/490), followed by fungal ones to 0.8% (4/490). In two aborted fetuses (0.4 %), a co-infection with two agents could be identified. Non-infectious diseases could be associated with 3% of the abortions and congenital malformations with 2.6%