skyhightree1
Well-known member
I didn't want to take over someone elses post but found this listed by the state vet.
Trich" is a disease we have all heard about but have
not had issue with in Virginia. Trichomoniasis is a venereal
disease of cattle caused by the protozoan Tritrichomonas
foetus. Virginia's cowherd is a naïve population with it only
being diagnosed 1-2 times in the last 20 years through our
state lab system. This disease is often introduced by a single
animal, most frequently an infected bull. The protozoan
is transmitted during the breeding process with
infection rates of 30-60 percent after a single service. Unlike
other diseases, Trich offers few clinical signs until the
disease is well established. Bulls are asymptomatic with no
changes in semen quality or physical condition. In cows,
the first sign of a problem is often the multiple number of
times they come into heat. The protozoa causes an early
embryonic death leading to repeated services, with an
extended breeding and subsequent calving season. Cows
may exhibit a slight vaginal discharge associated with
embryonic/fetal death. Cows will typically develop immunity
and shed the infection after repeated heat cycles. This
may result in significant economic losses due to lighter late
calves and cows culled that are not bred back, especially in
controlled time-limited breeding seasons. In herds that do
not pregnancy check or that calve year round, infection
goes undetected for extended periods. Unfortunately, the
immunity is short lived and the cows are prone to re-infection.
There is a commercially available vaccine that is
effective in the cowherd, but not in males. Bulls,
especially mature ones, remain lifelong carriers despite a
variety of innovative treatments. Culling and slaughter of
infected bulls is recommended.
A positive diagnosis is most often accomplished by
testing the bull. It is recommended that the bull have 2
weeks of sexual rest prior to testing to allow for buildup
of organisms in the crypts of the bull's prepuce. Conventional
testing recommendations are for 3 negative cultures
of preputial washings to be taken one week apart
before a bull should be considered negative. The availability
of PCR testing has led many practitioners to test
via PCR rather than culture. It is important to differentiate
testing protocols for diagnosing a bull as not infected
with Trich versus those testing protocols designed to
meet regulatory requirements for states that have requirements.
Currently, a single negative PCR result on a
preputial wash/scraping is accepted as diagnostic for
many state import requirements, but this is up to the
receiving state. While this is considered to be a practical
approach, a single test should not be considered to be
definitive evidence that a bull is not infected with Trich.
All states west of the Mississippi have Trich entry requirements,
as well as a few eastern states. When advising
clients, be sure to check with the state of destination for
specific testing requirements and any statements required
on the CVI. Most states will accept bulls less than 18
months of age with a "virgin bull statement," but some
states only accept that statement on bulls less than 12
months of age. When selling bred females, some western
states require a pregnancy statement that the cows are at
least 120 days pregnant. When purchasing animals from
western states, it is recommended that producers ensure
that the bulls are test-negative for Trich before bringing
them to Virginia. As with all diseases, it is much easier to
prevent rather than to treat and eradicate it once here.
Samples for either culture or PCR must be submitted
in a proprietary culture media known as InPouch TF,
which is a small bag containing a growth and transport
media that also inhibits the growth of yeast, mold and
bacteria. InPouch bags are available from the VDACS
Regional Animal Health Labs (RAHL) and should be
ordered and received prior to collecting the preputial
washes. Once samples are collected from the bull and
inoculated into the In Pouch, it is critical that handling
and shipping instructions are followed. Culture for
T. foetus is done at the RAHLs in Harrisonburg,
Lynchburg, Warrenton, and Wytheville at a price of
$12.00 per test. Upon receipt, InPouches are incubated
for 6 days, and examined daily for evidence of trichomonads.
A final report will be issued approximately
1 week following submission. PCR testing, which looks
for the specific molecular fingerprint of the T. foetus
organism, is more sensitive than culture and can be
completed sooner. It is done at the Wytheville RAHL,
and uses the same InPouch sample as is used for culture.
The cost for an individual PCR test is $40 and results are
available, depending on lab testing volume, after 3-6
days. PCR samples can also be pooled for screening
within the laboratory, and therefore some savings can be
realized by submitting samples from multiple animals for
test by pooling. Pools of up to 5 animals can be tested for
$75 per pool, with the caveat that if the pool is positive,
each individual must be tested as a follow-up.
Trich" is a disease we have all heard about but have
not had issue with in Virginia. Trichomoniasis is a venereal
disease of cattle caused by the protozoan Tritrichomonas
foetus. Virginia's cowherd is a naïve population with it only
being diagnosed 1-2 times in the last 20 years through our
state lab system. This disease is often introduced by a single
animal, most frequently an infected bull. The protozoan
is transmitted during the breeding process with
infection rates of 30-60 percent after a single service. Unlike
other diseases, Trich offers few clinical signs until the
disease is well established. Bulls are asymptomatic with no
changes in semen quality or physical condition. In cows,
the first sign of a problem is often the multiple number of
times they come into heat. The protozoa causes an early
embryonic death leading to repeated services, with an
extended breeding and subsequent calving season. Cows
may exhibit a slight vaginal discharge associated with
embryonic/fetal death. Cows will typically develop immunity
and shed the infection after repeated heat cycles. This
may result in significant economic losses due to lighter late
calves and cows culled that are not bred back, especially in
controlled time-limited breeding seasons. In herds that do
not pregnancy check or that calve year round, infection
goes undetected for extended periods. Unfortunately, the
immunity is short lived and the cows are prone to re-infection.
There is a commercially available vaccine that is
effective in the cowherd, but not in males. Bulls,
especially mature ones, remain lifelong carriers despite a
variety of innovative treatments. Culling and slaughter of
infected bulls is recommended.
A positive diagnosis is most often accomplished by
testing the bull. It is recommended that the bull have 2
weeks of sexual rest prior to testing to allow for buildup
of organisms in the crypts of the bull's prepuce. Conventional
testing recommendations are for 3 negative cultures
of preputial washings to be taken one week apart
before a bull should be considered negative. The availability
of PCR testing has led many practitioners to test
via PCR rather than culture. It is important to differentiate
testing protocols for diagnosing a bull as not infected
with Trich versus those testing protocols designed to
meet regulatory requirements for states that have requirements.
Currently, a single negative PCR result on a
preputial wash/scraping is accepted as diagnostic for
many state import requirements, but this is up to the
receiving state. While this is considered to be a practical
approach, a single test should not be considered to be
definitive evidence that a bull is not infected with Trich.
All states west of the Mississippi have Trich entry requirements,
as well as a few eastern states. When advising
clients, be sure to check with the state of destination for
specific testing requirements and any statements required
on the CVI. Most states will accept bulls less than 18
months of age with a "virgin bull statement," but some
states only accept that statement on bulls less than 12
months of age. When selling bred females, some western
states require a pregnancy statement that the cows are at
least 120 days pregnant. When purchasing animals from
western states, it is recommended that producers ensure
that the bulls are test-negative for Trich before bringing
them to Virginia. As with all diseases, it is much easier to
prevent rather than to treat and eradicate it once here.
Samples for either culture or PCR must be submitted
in a proprietary culture media known as InPouch TF,
which is a small bag containing a growth and transport
media that also inhibits the growth of yeast, mold and
bacteria. InPouch bags are available from the VDACS
Regional Animal Health Labs (RAHL) and should be
ordered and received prior to collecting the preputial
washes. Once samples are collected from the bull and
inoculated into the In Pouch, it is critical that handling
and shipping instructions are followed. Culture for
T. foetus is done at the RAHLs in Harrisonburg,
Lynchburg, Warrenton, and Wytheville at a price of
$12.00 per test. Upon receipt, InPouches are incubated
for 6 days, and examined daily for evidence of trichomonads.
A final report will be issued approximately
1 week following submission. PCR testing, which looks
for the specific molecular fingerprint of the T. foetus
organism, is more sensitive than culture and can be
completed sooner. It is done at the Wytheville RAHL,
and uses the same InPouch sample as is used for culture.
The cost for an individual PCR test is $40 and results are
available, depending on lab testing volume, after 3-6
days. PCR samples can also be pooled for screening
within the laboratory, and therefore some savings can be
realized by submitting samples from multiple animals for
test by pooling. Pools of up to 5 animals can be tested for
$75 per pool, with the caveat that if the pool is positive,
each individual must be tested as a follow-up.
