PREVALENCE, ETIOLOGY, AND RISK FACTORS OF CAPRINE FOETAL LOSS: AN ABATTOIR-BASED STUDY IN SHANONO, NORTHERN NIGERIA

Reproductive wastage, particularly foetal loss, severely constrains goat productivity in sub-Saharan Africa, but region-specific etiological data are lacking. This abattoir-based study was aimed at determining the prevalence and identifying the primary causes of foetal losses in goats in Kano State, Nigeria. Utilizing a cross-sectional design over six months, 300 female goats were systematically sampled and stratified by body weight. This research involved ante-mortem assessments for breed, age, and Body Condition Score (BCS), as well as post-mortem examinations of reproductive tracts to identify uterine scars, corpora lutea, and foetuses. Laboratory diagnostics comprising Rose Bengal, c-ELISA, and PCR screened for zoonotic pathogens, including Brucella melitensis, Chlamydophila abortus, and Coxiella burnetii were conducted on the examined does, 62.0% showed evidence of pregnancy. The overall prevalence of foetal loss was 24.7%, with rates significantly higher in lightweight goats (38.0%) compared to heavier animals (16.4%; p=0.002). Brucella melitensis was the primary infectious contributor, identified in 28.3% of loss cases, followed by Chlamydophila abortus (10.9%). Notably, 50.0% of cases yielded no infectious agent, suggesting the impact of environmental stressors or non-investigated pathogens. Poor nutritional status was a critical risk factor; goats with a low BCS (1-2) suffered significantly higher loss rates (39.5%) than those in good condition (12.1%; p