Trichomoniasis a Threat to Cattle

Trichomoniasis continues to plague cattle herds in the upper Great Plains.

It is a venereal disease in cattle that the protozoan Tritrichomonas foetus causes. The disease can cause infertility, abortions in the first half of gestation and uterine infections, resulting in cows having to be bred more than once per season.

No cases of trichomoniasis have been reported in North Dakota, according to Neil Dyer, director of the North Dakota State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

Infected bulls are the real culprits in this disease, says Charlie Stoltenow, NDSU Extension Service veterinarian.

The bull becomes infected from a cow and then spreads the disease to other cows during the breeding season, he says. Most cows will clear themselves of the infection within three months of initial infection, but they may lose their fetus during that time. After infection, cows have a two- to six-month immunity and then can become reinfected. Bulls more than 4 years old become infected permanently.

Stoltenow recommends that since trichomoniasis has been diagnosed in South Dakota, North Dakota producers should take a number of actions to protect their herds. These include:

• Purchasing only virgin bulls as additions to the breeding herd. Nonvirgin bulls, especially from an area with trichomoniasis, are at increased risk for bringing this disease into the herd.
• When purchasing or leasing bulls, ask if the herd those animals are from have a history of trichomoniasis. Purchasers always have the right to ask health-related questions about any animal they are thinking about buying.
• Using pregnancy testing in a timely manner to identify problems such as trichomoniasis early.
• Culling cows that lose their calves or abort. Those cows aborted or are open for a reason, and one of those reasons can be trichomoniasis. Make sure these culls go only to slaughter.
• Making sure that only cow-calf pairs are sent out to pasture.
• Using artificial insemination because it is very helpful in preventing the spread of venereal diseases in cattle herds.
• Making sure that all members of a grazing association understand the need to be vigilant for trichomoniasis and have taken measures to protect their herds.

Because of concerns about trichomoniasis and regulations in surrounding states, the North Dakota Board of Animal Health has initiated an order that requires certain bulls to be tested prior to importation. The order, which goes into effect July 23, also includes exemptions and allowances. For more information on the order, contact the state veterinarian's office at (701) 328-2655 or go to http://www.agdepartment.com and click on “animal import permits,” then look for Board Order 2007-03 under the cattle section.

The NDSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory can test for trichomoniasis. Call the lab at (701) 231-8307.

For more information on trichomoniasis, contact Stoltenow at (701) 231-7522 or mailto:charles.stoltenow@ndsu.edu, or Dyer at (701) 231-7521 or mailto:neil.dyer@ndsu.edu.

NDSU Agriculture Communication