Trichomoniasis Found in South Dakota Cattle

December 23, 2004

Trichomoniasis Found in South Dakota Cattle

Ten cattle herds in South Dakota west of the Missouri River recently were identified with trichomoniasis.

Trichomoniasis is a venereal disease of 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.

There are no reported cases of trichomoniasis 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, Extension Service veterinarian in the NDSU Animal and Range Sciences Department.

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 may lose the pregnancy 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 a neighboring state, North Dakota producers should take a number of actions to protect their herds. These include:

Purchase only virgin bulls as additions to your breeding herd. Nonvirgin bulls, especially from an area with trichomoniasis, are at increased risk for bringing this disease into your herd.
When purchasing or leasing bulls, ask if there is a history of trichomoniasis within that herd. Purchasers always have the right to ask health-related questions about any animal they are thinking about buying.
The timely use of pregnancy testing can identify problems such as trichomoniasis early and allow for action to identify the reason for increased open cows.
Cull cows that lose their calves or abort. There’s a reason those cows aborted or are open, and one of those reasons can be trichomoniasis. Make sure that these culls go only to slaughter.
Make sure that only cow-calf pairs are sent out to pasture.
Artificial insemination is very helpful in preventing the spread of venereal diseases in cattle herds.
Good fences make good neighbors. Make sure that if you are in a grazing association, all members understand the need to be vigilant for trichomoniasis and have taken measures to protect their herds.

The NDSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory can test for trichomoniasis. The lab’s phone number is (701) 231-8307.

For more information, contact Stoltenow at (701) 231-7522, cstolten@ndsuext.nodak.edu, or Dyer at (701) 231-7521, neil.dyer@ndsu.edu.

###

Source: Charlie Stoltenow, (701) 231-7522, cstolten@ndsuext.nodak.edu, and Neil Dyer, (701) 231-7521, neil.dyer@ndsu.edu.
Editor: Ellen Crawford, (701) 231-5391, ecrawfor@ndsuext.nodak.edu

Market Advisor:

Crop

Livestock

North Dakota State University
NDSU Agriculture Communication
NDSU Extension Service
ND Agricultural Experiment Station