Campylobacter fetus subspecies venerealis

• Venereal infection of cattle
• Infertility in female cattle
• Found in glandular crypts of prepuce of bull with no clinical signs - carriers
• Causes catarrhal inflammation in female genital tract
• Endometritis prevents implantation until infection cleared and causes early embryonic death, occasionally sporadic abortion
• May remain infertile for 3-5 months before immunity develops, which lasts 4-5 years
• Effective immunity includes induction of IgA in the vagina and IgG in the uterus
• Bacteria may persist in the vagina and be transmitted to bulls
• Diagnosis:
  • Fluorescent antibody test on genital discharges from bull/cow
  • Vaginal mucus agglutination test
  • ELISA to IgA antibodies in vaginal mucus after an abortion
  • PCR for detection in semen
• Treatment: dihydrostreptomycin intrauterine for cows and systemically or topically for bulls
• Vaccination: bacterin in oil adjuvant