Bovine Tritrichomoniasis and Campylobacteriosis – NAVLE Study Guide

Overview and Clinical Importance

Tritrichomoniasis (caused by Tritrichomonas foetus) and Campylobacteriosis (caused by Campylobacter fetus subspecies) are the two most important venereal diseases affecting cattle reproductive health worldwide. Both diseases are characterized by early embryonic death, infertility, extended calving seasons, and occasional abortion. These conditions are economically devastating to beef cattle operations that rely on natural service breeding, with potential calf crop reductions of 30-50% in newly infected herds.

These diseases share similar clinical presentations, making differentiation challenging. Bulls serve as asymptomatic carriers for both pathogens, emphasizing the critical importance of pre-breeding bull testing in disease prevention. The widespread use of artificial insemination (AI) has significantly reduced prevalence in dairy herds, but both diseases remain major concerns in extensively managed beef cattle populations.

PART 1: Bovine Tritrichomoniasis

Etiology

Tritrichomonas foetus is a flagellated protozoan parasite belonging to the family Trichomonadidae. The organism is an obligate parasite of the bovine reproductive tract.