California Studies on Diagnostic Procedures, Female Immune Responses and Epidemiology of Bovine Trichomoniasis

Abstract

In spite of concerted efforts to develop a sensitive and specific immuno-diagnostic assay for bovine trichomoniasis, the most reliable method for establishing a diagnosis in an infected herd is the culture of preputial or vaginal secretions on Diamond's medium (or equivalent). Recent improvements in packaging of media have made it possible to expedite the culture procedure without significant loss of sensitivity. Studies on the immune responses of experimentally infected heifers have shown that a large number of antigens of T. foetus are recognized by immunoglobulins (especially IgA and IgG1) in local secretions of the reproductive tract, with little systemic response seen in the serum.

A survey of randomly selected cow-calf herds in California, in which bulls from each herd were cultured for T. foetus, showed that approximately 15 % of all herds, and 5% of all bulls, were infected. Without an effective legal treatment for either cows or bulls, the need for inexpensive accurate diagnostics and effective immunoprophylaxis is urgent.