Laboratory use in pregnancy loss diagnosis

Abstract

Pregnancy loss and perinatal mortality are important economic and public health issues for the livestock industry. To minimize losses
and prevent human infections, rapid and accurate identification of the cause is critical. Veterinary diagnostic laboratories not only have
an important role in identifying causes of pregnancy loss but also in monitoring (surveillance) infectious diseases that cause reproductive
failure. Appropriate specimen collection and handling are essential prerequisites for reliable test results. Consequently, laboratory test
procedures and their value may be compromised by using specimens that are not collected, labelled, handled or stored properly prior
to testing. Principles of biosecurity and biocontainment must be strictly followed during sample collection. For accurate determination
of the cause of pregnancy loss in ruminants, it is recommended to use a battery of diagnostic tests done in parallel. These tests include
histopathology, real time polymerase chain reaction (rtPCR) assay, bacterial and viral isolation, detection of fetal antibodies in serum
or fluid from thorax or abdomen, and maternal serology. Veterinary laboratory professional staff can provide consultation services to
clients regarding test selection and testing strategies, interpretation of results, surveillance, disease prevention and control programs. This
review provides essential information on collection of diagnostic samples and interpretation of test results for the diagnosis of most
common infectious causes of pregnancy loss in ruminants.