The troublesome problem of placentitis was the subject of an in-depth session at the 50th annual American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention in Denver, Colo., Dec. 4-8, 2004. Michelle LeBlanc, DVM, Dipl. ACT, of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., set the tone for the session when she told her listeners that "The single most important cause of premature delivery of a foal is placentitis. It accounts for nearly one-third of late-term abortions and fetal mortality in the first day of life."

And, she added, 90% of the placentitis cases stem from bacteria entering the uterus via the vagina and then breaching the cervical barrier.

The title of LeBlanc's talk was, "Ascending Placentitis: What We Know About Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment."

While the disease is insidious, she said, horse owners and practitioners have the advantage of being alerted by some outward signs, enabling them to begin a treatment protocol aimed at saving the foal. Two of the classic tip-offs on the part of the pregnant mare, she said, are vaginal discharge and premature udder development