contagious abortion

noun

, Veterinary Pathology.

1. brucellosis of domestic cattle, an infectious disease characterized by spontaneous abortion and caused by the bacterium Brucella abortus; Bang's disease.
2. any of several diseases causing spontaneous abortion of domestic animals, as vibriosis or salmonellosis.

contagious abortion

noun

1. another name for brucellosis

Word History and Origins

Origin of contagious abortion¹

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

It was originally coined for strategies to eliminate “contagious abortion” from bacterial infection in sheep and cattle.

From Seattle Times

Even a cow that wanders past is ill not merely with rinderpest and “red-water” but with “contagious abortion.”

From New York Times

Bang and Stribolt subsequently examined pieces of placenta from a large number of cases of contagious abortion, and found the bacillus microscopically in practically all cases.

From Project Gutenberg

The organism causing contagious abortion in cattle is known to be present in the milk of the infected animal at the time of its withdrawal from the udder.

From Project Gutenberg

This, however, is less necessary in the mare than in the cow, in which the prevalent contagious abortion must be counteracted by the persistent local use of antiseptics.

From Project Gutenberg