Bovine stillbirth due to Nocardia farcinica

Abstract

A stillborn calf at 259 days of gestation was examined. The dam showed no clinical signs of disease, and the stillbirth was occurred sporadically and were characterized by focal necrosis surrounded by infiltration of the cells such as macrophages and multinucleated giant cells. The lesions were observed systemically. The hyphae were visible by Grocott's stain and they were positive by immunohistochemical stain using serum of a rabbit immunized with the isolated organism. The isolated bacteria were determined to be Nocardia farcinica by bacteriological and molecular analysis and we confirmed that the stillbirth was caused by infection with and proliferation of Nocardia farcinica. This is the first report of a bovine stillbirth caused by this organism.