In Brucellosis, abortions occur typically in which stage of pregnancy?

• A. First half of pregnancy
• B. Second half of pregnancy
• C. No abortions occur
• D. Abortions at term

Answer: (B)

Brucellosis causes abortions because the Brucella bacteria invade the reproductive tract and set up in the placenta, leading to placentitis and fetal infection. This process develops as pregnancy progresses, so abortions most often occur in the latter half of gestation. Early pregnancy infections don’t typically disrupt the pregnancy in the same way, and abortions near term are not the characteristic pattern. Thus, the stage of pregnancy where abortion is most common is the second half of gestation.