Reproductive Pathogens Flashcards
What is a commensal organism and how can they help control pathogens
Commensals do not invade. That is not to say that that a commensal can never be harmful, but other circumstances often need to be present e.g.
There is damage that allows them to persist or penetrate
A pathogen has aggressive tools for invasion
Commensals may help control pathogens as they compete with them for places to live and they may also prime the immune system against pathogens
Innate immunity in males- repro
Immunity maintains the balance of commensal bacteria and pathogens
Innate immunity in females- repro
Immunity maintains the balance of commensal bacteria, pathogens !and any introduced bacteria, allogenic* sperm, and the immunologically distinct fetus!
*= likely to interact antigenically
Inflammation of the preputial lining
posthitis
Inflammation of the penis
Balanitis
Inflammation of the testis
Orchitis
Inflammation of the perineum
Dermatitis/ vulvitis
What is endometritis
Inflammation of endometrium (mucosal lining of uterus)
What is metritis
inflammation of uterus down to myometrium (middle layer- smooth muscle)
Animals with metritis are often systemically sick
What is pyometra
Full-thickness inflammation of uterus to perimetrium- associated with pus in the uterus
Inflammation of uterine tube
salphingitis (rare)
Inflammation of ovary
oophoritis (rare)
What is a reproductive, venereal and non venereal pathogen
A pathogen that affects the reproductive tract
Can be either specific pathogens or in some circumstance can include commensals
Reproductive pathogens can be transmitted:
Via semen or vaginal secretion = Venereal Pathogen
Via other routes (e.g. respiratory tract) = Non Venereal
When is uterine contamination (with commensal or pathogen) most common (2)
- Post-partum in all species as cervix is open
- Post-mating ONLY in mare, sow, bitch (as cervix has no mucus plug and ejaculation occurs directly into the uterus)
These species can develop mating-induced endometritis
These species may also have endometritis without mating if bacteria ascend through the open cervix during oestrus
What is common with uterine contamination post-partum
Normally with commensal organisms (associated with damage to the endometrium as the placenta detaches)
As deeper layers of the uterus are exposed the commensal organisms infection can penetrate the myometrium-> metritis
Sometimes the condition improves and only a more superficial contamination persists.
What normal happens after uterine contamination at mating/ after oestrus
MARE,SOW,BITCH
Normally commensal bacteria are rapidly cleared by immune response and uterine contractions:
If there is an abnormal uterus or a poor uterine response this may allow commensal bacteria to persist -> Endometritis (also called mating-induced endometritis, or post-coital endometritis)
Pathogenic bacteria may invade without the need for an abnormal uterus or a poor uterine response resulting in Endometritis
If highly pathogenic i.e. deeply invasive they may sometimes cause Metritis (the animal becomes sick)
In most cases, the female does not become pregnant but rarely the infection is controlled and pregnancy may occur but bacterial growth in pregnancy may result in pregnancy loss
Common pathogenic bacteria that infects mares after mating
Taylorella- stallions are asymptomatic carriers
Common pathogenic bacteria that infects cows after mating
Bovine venereal campylobacteriosis
Most don’t get pregnant but those who do are likely to lose the pregnancy.
Bulls are asymptomatic carriers
Impact of herpes virus infection via the repsiratory tract in a female
Many are transmitted by aerosol and replicate in the respiratory tract so there is commonly resp. tract disease
Viruses spread to other organs and may lie dormant (a latent infection)
If the female is pregnant the virus may invade the placenta and cause resorption or abortion
If the female becomes pregnant the ‘stress’ of pregnancy may allow viral recrudescence and the activated virus invades the placenta resulting in pregnancy loss
Types of herpes virus that cause infection via. respiratory tract in Equine, Canine, Feline, Bovine
Equine: EHV1 resp tract pathogen & causes resp. disease and placentitis -> abortion
Canine: CaHV1 transmitted by resp tract pathogen & causes resp. disease and placentitis -> abortion
Feline: FeHV1 transmitted by resp tract (Feline Rhinotracheitis), it may cause abortion but this is rare
Bovine: BoHV1 transmitted by resp tract (Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis) but can cause abortion
Vaccines are available for each of these
Impact of herpes virus infection via the reproductive tract in a female
Transmitted venereally and cause local vesicular disease and not pregnancy loss
Some may not be solely localised in the reproductive tract and have the potential to spread via the resp. tract or to cause systemic infection
Types of herpes virus that cause infection via. respiratory tract in Equine, Canine, Feline, Bovine
Equine: EHV3 reprod tract pathogen that causes vesicular lesions on the penis and vulval (termed ‘coital exanthema’)
Canine: CaHV1 reprod tract pathogen that causes vesicular lesions on the penis and vulval
Bovine: BoHV1 reprod tract pathogen that causes vesicular lesions on the penis and vulval (termed ‘infectious pustulovaginitis’)
Human: Herpes simplex virus causes genital herpes (fetal infection may occur via systemic infection of the dam)
Routine prebreeding screening in horses
Stallions: penile swabs etc for bacterial venereal pathogens (Taylorella, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas), EVA (equine viral arteritis) serology (to show negative status and then vaccination)
Mares: clitoral swabs for bacterial venereal pathogens (as above), EVA serology
Standard vaccination regimes for EHV
HBLB Codes of practice for CEM, EVA, EHV, ECE, EIA, Strangles etc
Routine pre-breeding screening in dogs
Bitches: none (CaHV1 vaccination in pregnancy)
Dogs:none
Standard vaccination regimes
Routine pre-breeding screening in cats
Toms: FeLV and FIV serology
Queens: FeLV and FIV serology
Standard vaccination regimes
Routine pre-breeding screening in cows
Bulls: when purchasing non-virgin screen for Campylobacter and rarely Trichomonas (sheath washings for culture)
Cows: none
Brucella surveillance (regular bulk milk testing, investigating abortions, serology on bulls in semen production centres)
Routine serology for diseases that affect reproduction (BVD, IBR, Lepto)
Routine pre-breeding screening in sheep
Rams: Border Disease
Ewes: none but empty or aborted ewes screened for Toxoplasma and EAE by serology
Brucella melitensis samples performed by DEFRA on random flocks
Routine pre-breeding screening in pigs
Boars: serology for PRRS (done weekly in semen production centres), Aujzeskys, Brucella and Classical Swine Fever
Sows: none
Routine vaccination regimes (Erysipelas, PPV, Leptospira, and PRRS [also Ecoli etc to improve colostral ABs for piglet protection])
in what species is there no mucus plug and ejaculation occurs directly into the uterus
mare, sow, bitch
What is EAE
Enzoonotic Abortion in Ewes
Chlamydophila abortus
What is PRRS
porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome
Betaarterivirus suid 1
wo distinct clinical phases: reproductive failure and postweaning respiratory diseases
