Epizootic Bovine Abortion (Foothill Abortion): The Disease, Diagnosis and Control Strategies

Epizootic bovine abortion (EBA) was recognized as a disease entity of beef cattle in the 1950’s in California. The disease, referred to regionaly as foothill abortion, is believed to have existed in California as early as the 1920’s. The name, foothill abortion, was appropriately coined as the disease was noted to occur exclusively in pregnant cattle that were grazed in foothill and mountainous regions in California. The economic impact of foothill abortion was of such significance that it contributed to the establishment of the University of California’s School of Veterinary Medicine in Davis and research funds to study it were established as a permanent line-item in the state’s legislative budget.