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WORKING
TOGETHER
FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE...
5
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
CAMPY LOBACTER
‘The disease is caused by the bacterium -
Campylobacter foetus venerealis,
‘ explains
Keith. ‘It is spread from cow to bull to cow
during natural service. So although it is more
commonly found in beef suckler herds, any
dairy farm which runs bulls and buys in
animals, is also at risk.
‘Warning signs to look out for are when
fertility is disappointing, especially in heifers,
or when there is a wide spread in the calving
block, plus a history of buying in animals
which may be the source of the infection.’
Diagnosis is not straightforward. Keith
explains: ’Campylobacter is a bacterial
infection and can’t be identified from
blood samples.’
The bacterium inhabits the vagina and cervix
of the cow. From here it can invade the uterus
causing an endometritis and early embryonic
death or later abortions. The damage caused
may render the cow infertile. In bulls, the
organism lives in the folds and crevices of the
prepuce (foreskin), where it can persist for life.
‘So to determine whether an animal is
infected, vaginal washings or sheath
washings need to be carried out and samples
cultured in a laboratory to identify the
bacterium,‘ explains Keith. ‘Campylobacter
is a delicate organism, and so it is easy to
get false negatives.
‘The good news is that cows can rid
themselves of the infection naturally - it will
disappear after about five oestrous cycles. In
suckler herds, as a rule of thumb, this equates
to two years and two calves.
‘However, in bulls, although the sheath can
be washed out with antibiotics, success is
difficult to ascertain, as the bacterium could
still be present in the folds of the foreskin.‘
There are currently no UK licensed vaccines
for Campylobacter. So controlling the
disease is dependent on either management
strategies, or the isolation of the bacterium
from an infected animal to produce an
autogenous vaccine.
Veterinary surgeon
Keith Cutler
XLVets practice
Endell Veterinary Group
Campylobacter:
is this venereal
disease affecting herd fertility?
Campylobacter is a sexually transmitted disease that in cattle leads to
abortions and infertility. It is often an overlooked and under-diagnosed
disease, believes Endell Veterinary Group vet Keith Cutler.
KEITH CUTLER, ENDELL VETERINARY GROUP
Laboratory analysis is required to diagnose
Campylobacter
Abortion can result from Campylobacter
infection
Sheath washing can be used to help in the
control of Campylobacter