NAVLE Nuggets: Bovine Abortions (pt. 1)

Let's talk about case number one.

A ranch using natural breeding reports repeat breeders, infertility, early embryonic death, and occasional abortions.

Several older bulls are being used.

What is one of your top differentials? Hopefully, you're thinking tritrichomonas fetus or trichomoniasis.

Tritrichomonas is caused by piriform or pleomorphic protozoan.

This is a reportable disease, so I want you guys to remember that.

Tritrichomonas or trichomoniasis is transmitted venereally.

The organism lives in the reproductive tract, and so older bulls can become lifelong carriers because it lives in their reproductive tract.

Specifically, trichomoniasis lives in the deeper penile crypts, causing these bulls to be chronic carriers.

Usually though, cows can clear the infection over time, typically over two to three estrous cycles.

Clinical signs you'll see with trichomoniasis.

First, with our bulls, we'll see no clinical signs at all.

As I mentioned, they are chronic carriers.

Our cows, however, will see early embryonic death, which results in repeat breeding and irregular calving distribution.

Often, we will see an increase in the number of non-pregnant cows and late-bred cows in the herd.

How do we diagnose trichomoniasis? Bulls are tested.

Specifically, we do a prepucial wash or aspirate, and we take that sample and observe it under a microscope for the protozoa.

We can also do a PCR or a culture.

Cultures, typically more than 90% of infections are cultured successfully.

How do we treat trichomoniasis? There is no treatment.

So we can only focus on controlling the disease by culling positive bulls, using artificial insemination, or testing breeding bulls before introducing them into the herd.

So the key is prevention.

Here's your memory trick to remember trichomonas fetus.

Trick equals trouble conceiving.

And don't forget, trichomoniasis is reportable.