-B. abortus 2308 caused moderate–severe cell death of TGCs and infiltrating neutrophils in an ER-stress-dependent manner, while a ΔvceC or ΔvirB2 mutants induced an intermediate or zero cell-death phenotype, respectively.-VceC induces ER stress in TGCs through the activation of CHOP, triggering cell death.-ER-stress-mediated trophoblast death may not be the sole cause of abortion. Here, DDIT3 is linked to abortion.