Male Repro Practical Flashcards
What colour are live sperm stained with nigrosin eosin stain
White
What colour are dead sperm stained with nigrosin eosin stain
pink
3 bacterial venereal pathogens in horses
Taylorella (also called Contagious Equine Metritis Organism [CEMO])
Klebsiella
Pseudomonas
Where is a stallion swabbed for venereal pathogens
urethra, urethral fossa, sheath and pre-ejaculatory fluid
What transport medium to use for repro swabs from horses
Need to be a microaerophilic environment
charcol based-> Aimes medium
Where are mares swabbed when looking for bacterial venereal pathogens
clitoral fossa
clitoral sinus
When are mares and stallions usually swabbed for venereal pathogens
Start of each breeding season
2 significant venereal pathogens in cows
Bovine venereal campylobacteriosis- bacterial
Trichomonas- protozoal
Bovine Venereal Campylobacteriosis
This causes asymptomatic infection in the bull who acts as a carrier. Breeding of a non-immune cow causes initial vaginitis, and then endometritis.
The ability to get pregnant is reduced, and in animals that become pregnant the poor uterine environment often results in pregnancy loss.
Immunity will subsequently develop and then cows conceive normally.
Campylobacter is difficult to grow so when samples are taken they are immediately placed into transport media if being sent for culture. PCR can be performed but has variable reliability.
There is a poor systemic immune response and so serology does not detect the disease. However, IgA may be detected in material flushed from the vagina
How are bulls tested for bovine venereal campylobacteriosis
scrapings of the preputial lining are often taken using a semi-rigid plastic spatula:
Scrapings are examined for Campylobacter by culture, or PCR.
Bulls are examined prior to moving to a farm or regularly if used for semen collection.
How are cows tested for bovine venereal campylobacteriosis
In the UK cows are rarely screened. In some countries a vaginal wash will be subject to culture, PCR or IgA examination.
Routine screening of aborted material is performed.
Trichomonas in cows
This is a protozoal agent which is an obligate venereal pathogen. It has virtually been eliminated in the UK and only occasional sporadic cases are seen.
The organism causes asymptomatic infection in the bull who acts as a carrier.
Breeding of non-immune cows causes a rapid and significant endometritis.
The severe endometritis results in the cow often not becoming pregnant, although a small number do but the pregnancy fails early on as the organism persists in the uterus.
Immunity does develop such that fertility may return.
How are bulls tested for trichomonas
Flushings are taken from the sheath in order to detect the organism after culture.
PCR can also be undertaken on flushings.
How are cows tested for trichomonas
Infection can be diagnosed by identification of the organism in uterine pus or aborted material.
