[Differential pathomorphological diagnosis of Q fever and Chlamydia and Toxoplasma abortions in sheep].

Morphologic differential diagnostic investigations were carried out with a total of 134 aborted sheep fetuses. The studies were coupled by the examination of 665 blood serum samples from sheep that were pregnant or had miscarried. Parallel bacteriologic studies were also carried out. Positive serologic results were obtained in 43.74 per cent of the cases (toxoplasmosis), 20.2% (chlamydial infection), and 14.4% (Q-fever). Gross lesions were found in 64 fetuses (toxoplasmosis), 18 (Q-fever), and 35 (chlamydial infection). Histologically, diagnostic value in chlamydial abortions had the lympho-histiocytic proliferations in the liver, adrenals, and kidneys. The mesenterial lymph nodes presented diffuse reticuloendothelial hyperplasia with gigantic cells of Langhans type. Microscopically, in the case of Q-fever the aborted fetuses showed lympho- histiocytic proliferations and nonreactive micronecroses in the liver, adrenals, lymph nodes, and kidneys; nonpurulent meningoencephalitis was also found. The histopathologic picture seen in the aborted fetuses in the case of toxoplasmic abortion presented characteristic diffuse glial proliferation, and glial nodes and necroses in the white matter of the cerebrum and the cerebellum. In the liver, kidneys, adrenals, and lymph nodes there were focal lymphoid-cell proliferations and micronecroses. Macroscopically, the fetal placenta showed pathognomonic gray-whitish nodules; histologically, in such cases there were pseudo-cysts and vast deposits of calcium salts.