Since the late 1980s a distinct form of focally-extensive mucoid to mucopurulent uterine body chronic placentitis, caused by nocardioformorganisms, has been recognised in horses in the USA state of Kentucky and possibly in other areas. This disease has led to increasing numbers of foal losses from late abortions, still-births, prematurity, or early neonatal deaths. The foals are usually not infected, but may be small or emaciated. Modes of infection and transmission are as yet unknown. <em>Nocardia</em> spp. and related nocardioformbacteria as causes of equine infertility, endometritis and foal death are briefly reviewed. A case of near full-term abortion involving a Friesian mare in the Pretoria district of Gauteng Province in South Africa during February 2000, with the same placental lesion as described in the Kentucky cases, is presented. Nocardioform organisms were visualised on impression smears and histological sections of affected foetal membranes, and were also cultured. The organism has been identified at the Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center of the University of Kentucky as an <em>Amycolatopsis</em> sp. of the less-commonly diagnosed group of nocardioforms causing placentitis in the USA. The organism was cultured from the uterus of the mare 18 days post-foaling, but after a 2-week course of oral trimethoprim and sulphamethoxazole, based on antibiogram sensitivity testing, a uterine flush yielded no growth. A semen sample from the sire of the aborted foal did not yield any Gram-positive filamentous branching bacteria. The mare subsequently conceived to a single insemination

Partial hydatidiform mole associated with live births is a rare condition. There are not enough cases in the literature to allow the assessment of comprehensive risks to be made and upon which management policies can be based. Several clinical dilemmas arise following diagnosis of a viable pregnancy associated with molar tissue. We present two cases demonstrating the problems and suggest management based on outcome and a review of the literature.

Proliferative retinopathy is a recognized long-term complication of diabetes and the commonest cause of blindness in young people. There is, however, some uncertainty regarding counselling given on the continuation of pregnancy when it is complicated by retinopathy. This case is used to highlight this difficulty and to discuss management based on literature review.