Trichomoniasis Overview: The Disease, History, & Management

1. Trichomoniasis Overview: The Disease, History, & Management Jeff D. Ondrak DVM, MS Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center jondrak@gpvec.unl.edu

2. Tritrichomonasfoetus • Tri = 3; trich = hair • Highly contagious venereal disease • Obligate parasite of the bovine reproductive tract

3. History • 1888 France • 1920’s World-wide • 1932 Pennsylvania dairy cows • 1958 Western U.S. beef herds

4. ? Courtesy of VectorTemplates.com

5. T. foetus in Females Disease Process Clinical Signs Mild discharge Return to estrus Extended calving season ≥ 40% reduction in % pregnant cows • Infection leads to inflammation, but does not interfere with conception • Early embryonic death and abortion at 50 – 80 days • Immune response clears infection • Infertility for 2-5 months => normal fertility • Unusual outcomes

6. Carrier Cows • No apparent carrier cows Barling et. al. BovPract 2005 • Post breeding • 22 months Alexander Aust Vet J 1953 • 300 days Mancebo et. al. Vet Parasitol 1995 • Post calving • 63-97 days Goodger et. al. JAVMA 1986 • 9 weeks Skirrow JAVMA 1987

7. T. foetus in Males Disease Process Clinical Signs None Treatment • Test and slaughter! • No tissue invasion • No detectable immune response • Preputial crypts aid in parasite survival • Chronic carriers in bulls > 3 years of age (Courtesy of Dr. Bruce Brodersen, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory)

10. Testing Errors Reports from our human counterparts indicate up to 90% of diagnostic test error occurs in the pre and post analytical phase of testing. While less than 10-13% of the error occurs during the analytical phase. • Pre-analytical Phase • Error sources include wrong sample, mishandled sample, improper sample collection, etc. • Analytical Phase (the equipment/technician) • Error sources include mechanical wear and tear, bad sensors, inherent errors, software errors, and improper cutoff values. • Post-analytical Phase • Reporting errors include misread or misreported values, transposition of figures, etc.

11. Trich and the Bad “B” Word

12. Herd Health Assurance:At-risk Herds • Communication • Veterinarian  producer • Producer  producer • Planned grazing • Appropriate fencing • Monitor fences and cattle • Maintain a closed herd • Utilize artificial insemination • Observe regulations • Purchase only virgin or pregnant replacements • Isolate and test herd additions • Isolate and test herd reintroductions • Records

13. 2004 2005 2006 2007 Herd A (1500 cows) 4.8% 5.4% 27.0% 13.9% 4.2%a Herd B (3000 cows) 4.1% 3.8% 4.2%b Historically 2008 Group % Open Herd C (3000 cows) ~7% 14% 1 2 3 4 5 9% 8% 15% 14% 19% a 8.9% open in the exposed group b 12.2% open in the exposed group

15. Herd Health Assurance:At-risk Herds • Communication • Veterinarian  producer • Producer  producer • Planned grazing • Appropriate fencing • Monitor fences and cattle • Maintain a closed herd • Utilize artificial insemination • Observe regulations • Purchase only virgin or pregnant replacements • Isolate and test herd additions • Isolate and test herd reintroductions • Records • Surveillance testing

16. Herd Health Assurance:Low Risk Herds • Communication • Veterinarian  producer • Producer  producer • Monitor fences and cattle • Maintain a closed herd • Utilize artificial insemination • Observe regulations • Purchase only virgin or pregnant replacements or purchase from a reputable source • Isolate and test herd reintroductions? • Records • Surveillance testing?????

17. Herd Health Assurance:Infected Herds • Communication • Veterinarian  producer • Producer  producer • Bull management • Test and cull

18. Comparison of First Test Efficiency First Test Efficiency 1st 2nd 3rd Total 95% CI Culture 8 2 1 11 .73 .39-.94 q PCR 9 3 0 12 .75 .43-.95 Gel PCR 8 4 1 13 .62 .32-.86

19. Herd Health Assurance:Infected Herds • Communication • Veterinarian  producer • Producer  producer • Bull management • Test and cull • Cull • Utilize artificial insemination • Maintain a young bull battery • Cow management • Cull all non-productive cows • Establish “clean” and “dirty” herds • Records • Surveillance testing

20. “…it is my opinion that if more care was taken in the sale and purchase of barren cows, in the purchase of bulls of breeding age, and if the farmers could be sufficiently educated to the unique opportunities for control that this disease offers, then its total elimination should be practicable in the quite near future.” H.P. Harding The Veterinary Record September 16, 1950

21. Questions?