Bacterial endotoxemia and reproductive effects in ruminants.

Gram-negative bacterial infections are fairly common in domestic ruminants. They can cause an endotoxemia with a variety of systemic signs, including fever, leukopenia, and ruminal stasis. Reproductive effects of endotoxemia include alterations in the estrous cycle and inability to maintain pregnancy. Diagnosis of endotoxemia is based largely on clinical evaluation. Confirming the diagnosis of endotoxin-induced reproductive alterations also is complicated by the lag period between clinical signs and abortion or infertility.