Infectious Causes of Abortions and Stillbirths in Horse Breeding

Horse breeding plays an important role in the economic and social development of many countries around the world. For the equine industry to function properly, high fertility rates and large numbers of healthy foals must be born. Achieving this objective is contingent upon factors such as an elevated fertility rate, uncomplicated pregnancy processes, and an augmentation in the number of healthy foals born. Diagnosis of disease, an appropriate management programme and regular veterinary checks are essential to prevent post-pregnancy foal losses and to maintain the overall health and productivity of horses. A detailed literature review revealed a lack of systematic research into foal mortality, which is a financial and moral loss to the equine industry. There are many infectious and non-infectious factors and causes that adversely affect pregnancy. Infectious agents include bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses. Non-infectious causes include transport, hormonal disorders, torsion and stress. Complications arising prior to and following parturition in equines have the potential to result in the termination of the pregnancy process or the failure of the foal to survive post-partum. It is therefore vital to be well-versed in the physiological and behavioural conditions of mares during pregnancy and parturition. In horse breeding, early diagnosis of the cause of abortions increases the success of treatment. There are many prevention and control methods to prevent pup mortality. In general, it is important to take these measures within the rules of preventive medicine. These should be determined as routine vaccination (equine herpes virus etc.), separation of pregnant mares from other horses and suspicious & sick horses (isolation), routine health checks, careful observation and developing a suitable diet under the guidance of an equine nutritionist. This study aims to provide information to breeders and colleagues by investigating the potential causes of abortions, infertility and post-partum litter deaths in horses.