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Animals
Special Issues
Reproductive Diseases in Ruminants
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Reproductive Diseases in Ruminants

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Cattle".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 1959

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Sergio Gastón Caspe

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, UK
Interests: veterinary medicine; reproductive disease in ruminants; veterinary pathology; veterinary microbiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

I am glad to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue of Animals entitled ‘Reproductive Diseases in Ruminants’. Reproductive efficiency is the basis for ruminant livestock production, influencing the sustainability and profitability of dairy, beef, and small ruminant systems worldwide.

However, reproductive diseases are currently far from being controlled. The main reason may be that these diseases, often multifactorial, are caused by infectious agents but influenced by other factors such as nutritional imbalances, environmental stressors, and genetic predispositions, emphasising the complexity of their management and prevention. Understanding the infectious agents and the pathogenicity related to their infection contributes to mitigating reproductive diseases in ruminants.

This Special Issue aims to contribute to the interaction and diffusion of knowledge on reproductive diseases in ruminants. I am pleased to invite you to contribute your research with different science foci, including biology, pharmacology, epidemiology, biochemistry, microbiology, and genetics, to provide tools for a better understanding.

For this Special Issue, original research articles, case reports, short communications, and reviews are welcome for submission. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: the discovery of new species, emerging threats, advances in diagnostic tools, immunology and pathology studies, diagnostic techniques, novel vaccines, alternative treatments, innovations in preventive strategies, host/pathogen interaction, epidemiological studies, risk factors, and economic impacts.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Sergio Gastón Caspe
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • abortion
  • ruminants
  • stillbirth
  • dystocia
  • congenital abnormalities
  • epididymitis
  • placentitis
  • endometritis
  • metritis

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 4165 KB  
Article
Cytokine Expression and Haptoglobin Levels in Bovine Fetuses Spontaneously Aborted by Intracellular Infectious Agents and by Probable Infectious Etiology
by Emiliano Sosa, Natalia Pla, Dadin Prando Moore, Juan Agustín García, Lucía María Campero, María Andrea Fiorentino, Evangelina Miqueo, Erika González Altamiranda, Fermín Lázaro, Karen Morán, María Guillermina Bilbao, Silvina Quintana, Maia Solange Marín and Germán José Cantón
Animals 2025, 15(19), 2878; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15192878 - 1 Oct 2025
Viewed by 924
Abstract
Intracellular pathogens such as Neospora caninum, Brucella abortus, and Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) are major contributors to bovine abortions, yet many cases remain without a definitive etiological diagnosis despite inflammatory evidence. This study aimed to characterize the immune response in [...] Read more.
Intracellular pathogens such as Neospora caninum, Brucella abortus, and Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) are major contributors to bovine abortions, yet many cases remain without a definitive etiological diagnosis despite inflammatory evidence. This study aimed to characterize the immune response in bovine fetuses aborted due to these intracellular agents, comparing them with fetuses showing inflammatory lesions of probable infectious origin and with negative controls. We analyzed cytokine expression (IFN-γ, TNFα, IL-4, IL-8, IL-12) and haptoglobin levels in mid- and late-gestation fetuses. Mid-gestation fetuses infected with intracellular agents exhibited elevated IFN-γ and IL-8 expressions, suggesting a Th1-type immune response, while late-gestation fetuses showed decreased of these cytokines, indicating a shift toward a Th2-type response. Probable infectious abortions at late gestation also showed downregulation of IFN-γ. No significant differences were observed in TNF-α and IL-12 expressions. Additionally, haptoglobin levels were lower in mid-gestation infected fetuses compared to controls. These findings highlight gestational age-dependent immune modulation in response to intracellular infections and suggest that other unidentified pathogens may contribute to abortions with inflammatory lesions but no confirmed etiology. This study enhances our understanding of fetal immune responses in bovine abortions and may support improved diagnostic approaches for reproductive losses in cattle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reproductive Diseases in Ruminants)
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Review

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19 pages, 1232 KB  
Review
Selected Pathologies of the Male Genital Organs in Bulls, Including Frequency, Significance, and Risk Factors: A Review
by Aleksander F. Butkiewicz, Maciej Zdun and Jędrzej M. Jaśkowski
Animals 2025, 15(19), 2804; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15192804 - 25 Sep 2025
Viewed by 603
Abstract
Bulls can develop various conditions affecting the penis, testicles, and associated structures that reduce fertility, spread disease, and increase costs for farmers. This review synthesizes data from farm fertility examinations and slaughterhouse findings to illustrate the prevalence of these conditions, their causes (including [...] Read more.
Bulls can develop various conditions affecting the penis, testicles, and associated structures that reduce fertility, spread disease, and increase costs for farmers. This review synthesizes data from farm fertility examinations and slaughterhouse findings to illustrate the prevalence of these conditions, their causes (including inherited defects, infections, and injuries), their impacts on breeding, and potential interventions. Conditions discussed include orchitis, testicular hypoplasia, testicular degeneration, testicular hydrocele, malignant tumors, spermatocele, penile papillomatosis, and penile hematoma. Lameness and systemic illnesses can also impair a bull’s breeding ability. Regular fertility examinations assessing overall health, testicle size, semen motility, and sperm morphology, coupled with timely medical or surgical treatment, can improve reproductive outcomes. Maintaining national records of birth defects and health histories could aid in preventing the transmission of deleterious traits. Reducing these disorders enhances animal welfare, protects herd fertility and the food supply, and supports the economic viability of cattle producers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reproductive Diseases in Ruminants)
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