Trichomoniasis of cattle is capable of causing enormous material damage to the household, because it affects the sexual function of the herd. Several types of pathogens lead to the disease, some of them are found in cows and pigs, others in humans. The main problem is that even after treatment of cattle trichomoniasis, some individuals will not be able to give offspring, that is, they will remain sterile forever.
Causative agent
The ailment occurs due to Trichomonas getting into the body of an animal. They can be pear-shaped, oval and spindle-shaped. The size of the pathogen varies from 8 to 30 microns in length and from 3 to 15 microns in width. Trichomonas has 4 flagella on the body, with their help it moves. The causative agent parasitizes on the genitals in cattle.
Trichomonas was first discovered in cows by a scientist named Kunstler in 1888. In Russia, the causative agent of the disease became known in 1935, after its detection in the bull by doctors Panin and Rumyantsev.
Trichomonads multiply by the method of longitudinal division of the mother cell into two daughter cells. They feed endosmotically, that is, absorbing substances into themselves throughout the surface of the body. Pathogens settle in the uterus of the cow, on the penis of the bull and in other tissues of the genital organs.
The maximum size of Trichomonas is achieved when in a favorable microclimate. If treatment is started in a timely manner, then the flagella of the pathogen disappear and it dies.
Description of the disease
Cattle trichomoniasis is caused by a flagellate parasite . Now this disease on farms is much less common than before. This is due to the spread of artificial insemination technology, in which the disease is not transmitted. The main cause of trichomoniasis in cows is sexual intercourse with an infected bull. Sometimes whole herds become infected in this way.
If the cow was pregnant at the time of infection, it will soon throw off the calf. Most often this happens for a period of 1 to 4 months. Trichomoniasis leads to infertility and miscarriage. If animals are not reproductively valuable, then they are most often handed over to butchers; only promising ones are treated.
In which regions is the disease most likely to occur?
Trichomoniasis in cattle is recorded in many countries. The disease is common in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan. Very often, trichomoniasis in cows is diagnosed in the Caucasian republics. The disease also occurs in countries of Europe, Asia, Africa, America.
The most favorable for the development of the disease are regions with a warm mild climate. Therefore, in Russia trichomoniasis in cattle is more common in the south. Under favorable climatic conditions, the causative agent may remain viable in feces or urine for 2–3 weeks.
Does cattle have immunity to trichomoniasis?
People have long been trying to breed cows that will be resistant to various diseases. For example, Krasnogorbatov cattle are practically not susceptible to leukemia and brucellosis. In the case of cattle trichomoniasis, such breeds could not be derived.
However, it was proved that part of the sick animals received immunity. Also, some animals are less susceptible to trichomoniasis than others. Perhaps this is due to their strong natural immunity. For many years, scientists have been trying to create a vaccine against trichomoniasis, but so far their attempts have failed.
The incubation period of the disease
The duration of the asymptomatic course of the disease often depends on the immunity of cattle. Trichomoniasis in cows can occur several hours after infection, this usually occurs in weakened, depleted animals. In young and healthy individuals, the incubation period lasts about a week. In some cases, the disease is asymptomatic for 14-23 days.
Distribution paths
Disease (trichomoniasis) of cattle is most often transmitted sexually, that is, from a bull to a cow and vice versa. Mostly animals of a random age get sick, but sometimes young animals can also get infected from them. Most often, infection occurs during natural mating. Very rarely, infection occurs with artificial insemination. Usually the cause of this is the use of unverified sperm and poor disinfection of instruments.
Another way of infection is household. Infected individuals can live with healthy animals. In this case, the transmission of cattle trichomoniasis occurs through litter, seeded equipment, urine and feces. The carriers of infection can be flies, in the body of which the virus can survive up to 8 hours.
Symptoms
Sometimes the first symptoms of cattle trichomoniasis may appear within a few hours after coating. The animal begins to be reluctant to eat, its temperature rises above 40 ° C. The cow may experience rapid breathing, palpitations. The animal begins to drink more.
Trichomoniasis can have two variants of the course of the disease: acute and chronic. In the first case, the symptoms in cattle are pronounced, but after 3-4 weeks they begin to fade. The owner may decide that the animal has recovered, but this is not so, just the disease turned into a chronic form. Without treatment, the entire herd of cows will have sexual problems.
Sometimes whole farms of infected animals come to light. The disease in them passes in a chronic form with almost no symptoms. In such a herd there are always a lot of spring cows, and bulls show low sexual productivity. Animals have low milk yield, miscarriages and unsuccessful insemination often occur.
How is the disease manifested in cows?
In cows, the manifestations of cattle trichomoniasis are almost always more pronounced than in bulls. In infected cows, the walls of the vagina become inflamed; they look reddened and swollen. Against the background of the disease, milk production always decreases in dairy animals. Small neoplasms are formed at the vaginal fornix, no larger than a pea. On palpation, the genitals are painful and rough. Purulent exudate may be separated.
Sick cows are not covered. If the animal is already pregnant, then a miscarriage occurs within a few months. Often an infected individual develops a pyometer - purulent inflammation of the uterus.
How is the disease in bulls?
In the male half of the herd, the ailment is often asymptomatic. But in bulls, potency always decreases, sperm quality deteriorates, and the percentage of successful fertilization decreases. If the disease proceeds in an acute form, then the manufacturer develops swelling of the genital organ, purulent and mucous secretions may appear. The prepuce region looks contaminated. On the mucous membrane of the penis, nodules of bright red or gray color are found. In a bull, problems with urination may begin, this process becomes painful for him.
After about a month, all the symptoms in the animal disappear, the disease becomes chronic. However, rectal examination often reveals changes in the prostate gland. The bull is not cured, he continues to infect the herd.
Diagnostics
If trichomoniasis is suspected, the owner of the animal should call a veterinarian, and not self-medicate. To establish an accurate diagnosis, the doctor takes swabs from the reproductive organs of animals, sperm, mucus from the vagina, scrapings from prepuce. The resulting material is plated on nutrient media. This method is the main one in the diagnosis of cattle trichomoniasis.
Also examine aborted fetuses up to 3-4 months of pregnancy. They are taken to the laboratory along with the placenta and all the membranes. But in order for the diagnosis to be made correctly, the fetus must reach the specialists no later than 12 hours after the abortion.
Treatment
To get rid of trichomoniasis, complex treatment is used. Like humans, cows need to work in 2 directions: destroy pathogenic microflora and improve the genitals. To reduce the uterus and quickly remove the inflamed contents from it, doctors prescribe drugs such as Oxytocin, Proserin, Pituitrin. Also often prescribed irrigation "Furacilin", "Ammargen", "Chinozole." Of antibiotics, Trichomonocide has proven itself best.
Bulls are treated with a penis with ichthyol ointment, moistened with hydrogen peroxide or chlorhexidine. An excellent result is given by the injection of the drug "Trichopolum". After treatment, animals are checked for trichomoniasis after 7-10 days.
Prevention
To reduce the incidence of livestock on the farm, you need to start using artificial insemination with the sperm of the examined bulls. This measure is the best prevention of trichomoniasis in cattle. If the cow will be covered by the bull in a natural way, then he can infect it with a mass of diseases. Artificial insemination should be handled by a trained specialist. During the procedure, all veterinary and sanitary rules must be observed.
If new animals were brought to the farm, then they must be placed in a separate room. Before launching into the main herd, they need to be examined and tested for trichomoniasis and other diseases. You must not allow your animals to communicate with other people's unexplored individuals. If infection could not be avoided, then the cattle is quarantined during treatment.
Danger to humans
Veterinarians claim that trichomoniasis from livestock cannot be transmitted to humans. The thing is that even in fact this is one disease, but it is caused by various pathogens. Trichomonas phoetus is dangerous for animals, and vaginalis for humans. It is for these reasons that it is impossible to become infected when dealing with cattle. But in any case, it is necessary to observe hygiene standards when caring for animals.
Trichomoniasis is not transmitted through cow's milk, meat and offal. But before killing and after slaughter, livestock must be inspected. If a veterinarian notices purulent discharge, endometritis or vaginitis, then the animal is tested posthumously. Upon confirmation of the diagnosis, all affected organs and tissues are removed for disposal.
Veterinarian Tips
Experts recommend carefully choosing cattle. You can buy cows only in prosperous farms. The animal must be quarantined upon arrival at the new home. It is better if the ladybird stands alone for about a month.
For any doubtful discharge from the genital tract, a veterinarian should be called. If trichomoniasis was detected during the diagnosis, then do not delay the treatment. This disease is very insidious and can bring enormous financial losses to the au pair.