{
    "abstract": "Pregnancy failure is a serious economic and welfare concern in the Thoroughbred horse industry, yet its incidence and risk factors in Australia remain unclear. This retrospective, nested, case-control study investigated pregnancy failure in resident mares on studs in the Hunter Valley, Australia, in 2021-2022, in early (46-150 days), mid (151-270 days), and late (>270 days) gestation. We found an annual incidence risk of 5.4 pregnancy failure cases/100 45-day pregnancies (0.05 cases/mare; 95\u202f% CI 0.04-0.07), with full-term (perinatal) losses (\u2265320 days) accounting for 24\u202f% of cases (95\u202f% CI 14-37\u202f%). There was no significant difference in loss according to mare age or reproductive history. Control mares had nearly six times higher odds of being vaccinated against Salmonellosis (Salmonella enterica subsp enterica serovar Typhimurium) compared to case mares (OR 5.92, 95\u202f% CI 1.2-29.7). Environmental factors like paddocks with native trees were also associated with increased losses. The study provides evidence that Salmonella sp. might be an important cause of pregnancy failures in Australia. In addition, the findings contribute valuable baseline data for developing targeted surveillance strategies for pregnancy failure in Australian Thoroughbreds. Further investigation of factors such as Salmonella sp. is warranted to enhance breeding success and ensure welfare of Thoroughbred mares in Australia.",
    "authors": [
        {
            "affiliation": "School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Science and Health, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia; CQUniversity Institute for Future Farming Systems, Rockhampton, QLD 4702, Australia.",
            "firstname": "Cara S",
            "initials": "CS",
            "lastname": "Wilson"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Equine Specialist Consulting, Scone, NSW 2337, Australia.",
            "firstname": "Joan",
            "initials": "J",
            "lastname": "Carrick"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Science and Health, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia.",
            "firstname": "Patrick",
            "initials": "P",
            "lastname": "Shearer"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Science and Health, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia.",
            "firstname": "Jane",
            "initials": "J",
            "lastname": "Heller"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia; Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia. Electronic address: victoria.brookes@sydney.edu.au.",
            "firstname": "Victoria J",
            "initials": "VJ",
            "lastname": "Brookes"
        }
    ],
    "conclusions": null,
    "copyrights": "Copyright \u00a9 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.",
    "doi": "10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106424",
    "journal": "Preventive veterinary medicine",
    "keywords": [
        "Abortion",
        "Australia",
        "Fetal loss",
        "Horse",
        "Pregnancy loss",
        "Stillbirth"
    ],
    "methods": null,
    "publication_date": "2025-01-27",
    "pubmed_id": "39864327",
    "results": null,
    "title": "A retrospective case-control study of pregnancy failure in Thoroughbred horses in Australia.",
    "xml": "<Element 'PubmedArticle' at 0x788502847880>"
}