Aborted fetus due to EHV-1 & EHV-4 typically shows which features?

• A. Greatly autolysed fetus
• B. Severe edema with heavy autolysis
• C. Freshly aborted +/- edema, minimal autolysis
• D. No fetal changes

Answer: (C)

Aborted fetuses caused by equine herpesviruses are typically fresh when expelled. The virus leads to an acute abortion, so the fetus is usually recently dead, with only minor changes such as some edema. Minimal autolysis means the tissues haven’t had much time to degrade after death, which is consistent with a rapid, recent expulsion rather than a prolonged intrauterine death. This pattern helps distinguish EHV abortions from scenarios where the fetus has been dead longer or where postmortem changes are more pronounced.

If you encountered a greatly autolysed fetus or a fetus with heavy edema and extensive autolysis, that would imply a longer interval between death and expulsion or a different pathologic process. No fetal changes would not fit the typical appearance seen with EHV-1 or EHV-4 abortions.