Venereal Diseases

Question 1

three venerally transmitted diseases in bovine

Answer 1

• Trichomoniasis
• Campylobateriosis
• Ureaplasma

Question 2

six venerally transmitted diseases in equine

Answer 2

• Equine coital exanthema (EHV‐3)
• Equine viral arteritis
• Contagious equine metritis
• Pseudomonas spp.
• Klebsiella spp.
• Dourine (exotic to Canada)

Question 3

what makes it difficult to differentiate between trichomonas, campylobacter, ureaplasma?

Answer 3

they have the same clinical signs

Question 4

what are the similar clinical signs found in cows that makes it hard to differentiate between venereal diseases?

Answer 4

-infertility
-low conception rate
-irregular cycle length
-long breeding season
-low pregnancy rate
-long calving season
-sporadic abortions

Question 5

trichomoniasis
-bulls
-where it lives
-transmission
-features of parasite

Answer 5

-Bulls – asymptomatic carriers
-Colonize penis and prepuce of mature bulls
-Transmission by bulls riding each other, bull to cow to bull, or by contaminated AI equipment or semen

-Trichomonas foetus; Flagellated protozoal parasite. Undulating membrane. size of RBC

Question 6

clinical signs of trichomoniasis in cows

Answer 6

Cows ‐ Syndrome of infertility
-Repeat breeders
-Irregular estrus intervals (a sign of early embryonic death ‐ EED)
-Post‐breeding pyometra
-Vaginitis, endometritis
-Open cows

Question 7

prognosis and control of trichomoniasis

Answer 7

Prognosis
-Spontaneous recovery in cows may occur after 3 months
-May become pregnant if long enough breeding season
-Poor for bull ‐ carrier state – source of infection– cull

Control
-Vaccination
-Use A.I.

Question 8

campylobacteriosis
-effect on young vs old bulls
-transmission

Answer 8

-Young bulls – if exposed before 3 yrs of age they will spread disease but usually clear it and become free of infection
-Old bulls – organism lives in epithelial crypts of penis/prepuce that develop after 4 yrs of age
-Become asymptomatic carriers
-Spread bull to cow (to bull), or bulls riding other bulls. Also thru contaminated AI equipment

Question 9

what organism causes Campylobacteriosis (Vibriosis)

Answer 9

-Campylobacter fetus spp. Venerealis
-Gram negative, motile, extracellular microaerophilic rod

Question 10

clinical signs of Campylobacteriosis (Vibriosis) in cows

Answer 10

Cows: Syndrome of infertility:
-Repeat breeders
-Irregular estrus intervals (EED)
-Open cows
-Long breeding and calving seasons
-Mild salpingitis and endometritis

Question 11

prognosis and control of Campylobacteriosis (Vibriosis)

Answer 11

Prognosis
-Good – cows usually clear the infection within 3‐6 months
-Develop immunity and become pregnant
-Young bulls also develop immunity

Control
-Cull older bulls
-Vaccination
Use AI

Question 12

features of Ureaplasmosis (Granular vulvitis)

where is it present in cows

Answer 12

Ureaplasma diversum
-Small organism
-No cell wall
-Normal inhabitant
-Cows – vulva and vagina
-Bulls – distal urethra, prepuce and semen

Question 13

clinical signs of Ureaplasmosis (Granular vulvitis) in cow

Answer 13

Syndrome of infertility
-Granular vulvitis (classic) (Vulva inflamed, hyperemic, Discrete raised red granules, Profuse sticky mucopurulent vulvar discharge)
-Repeat breeders
-Early ED – normal estrus intervals
-Late ED – long estrus intervals
-Abortions/placentitis

-If organisms are introduced into uterus (AI or breeding) a mild endometritis +/‐ salpingitis results ‐‐‐ leads to Early embryonic death (EED)

Question 14

clinical signs of Ureaplasmosis (Granular vulvitis) in bull

Answer 14

-Balanoposthitis in the bull

Question 15

prognosis and control of Ureaplasmosis

Answer 15

Prognosis
-Recurrent, so depends on management
-Lives in semen, including frozen semen

Control
-No vaccine – “live with it”
-AI with (sheath or double rod technique)
-Infusion/douche with tetracycline

Question 16

what venereal disease does a cow have if there is: post breeding pyometra, endometritis, EEED and the bull is normal?

Answer 16

trichomonas

Question 17

what venereal disease does a cow have if there is: endometritis, EEED and the bull is normal?

Answer 17

campylobacter

Question 18

what venereal disease does a cow have if there is: granular vulvitis, EEED, abortion and the bull has balanoposthitis?

Answer 18

ureaplasma

Question 19

diagnosis of venereal disease in cows vs bulls

Answer 19

-Culture organism to differentiate Trich from Campy
-Specialized transport media – contact lab first

-Cows – using sheathed AI rod and syringe, collect mucous from anterior vagina and cervix

-Bulls – preputial scrapings – a more reliable way to diagnose a herd problem than sampling lots of cows
–> Require 3 consecutive tests two weeks apart to ensure free of disease

Question 20

control and prevention of Trich and Campy

Answer 20

-Goal is eradication from herd
-Testing bulls is more rewarding – cull
-Keep only young bulls
-Avoid group housing and sharing of bulls
-Use of AI

Vaccination for Trichomonas and Campylobacter
-Prophylaxis and treatment

Question 21

equine coital exanthema
-other name for it
-when clinical signs appear

Answer 21

-Equine herpesvirus 3 (EHV‐3)
-Clinical signs 5‐7 days after mating

Question 22

clinical signs for mare vs stallion with equine coital exanthema

Answer 22

Mare:
-Vesicles on vulva, perineum, anus
-Progress to pustules
-Heal in 7‐10 days
-May lose pigmentation

Stallion
-Vesicles/pustules of penis and prepuce
-Pain may cause reluctance to breed
-Delays in breeding season

Question 23

diagnosis and treatment of Equine coital exanthema

Answer 23

Diagnosis
-Clinical signs
-Intranuclear inclusion bodies on histology
-Self limiting
-Does not affect fertility
-No treatment unless secondary infections

Question 24

Bacterial Venereal Endometritis
-agents
-presentation
-prevention
-treatment

Answer 24

-Agents: Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae

-May cause acute post‐breeding endometritis – failure of pregnancy
-Chronic endometritis
-Asymptomatic carriers ‐ stallions

-Routine swabbing of mares pre breeding as part of stallion contract

-Treat as acute endometritis – uterine lavage and appropriate antibiotic based on culture and sensitivity – repeat swab following treatment

Question 25

Equine viral arteritis; what virus family, transmission

Answer 25

-Equine arteritis virus = an Arterivirus

Transmission
-Direct contact/aerosol from respiratory secretions
-Venereal by mating or AI – some stallions can shed for life
-Contact with aborted fetus/membranes/fluids

Question 26

clinical signs of EVA

Answer 26

-Signs range from sub‐clinical to severe
-Fever, depression, anorexia
-Ventral and distal limb edema, mammary or prepucial/scrotal edema, urticaria
-Conjunctivitis, nasal discharge
-Abortion
-Pneumonia in foals

Question 27

mare shedding of EVA

Answer 27

-Mares infected at breeding shed virus for up to 21 days
-Source of infection for other pregnant mares on farm ‐ abortion

Question 28

stallion shedding

Answer 28

-Produces a carrier state in many stallions following infection
-Persistent shedding of virus in semen
-Testosterone dependent
-Harboured in accessory sex glands

Source of infection
-Natural cover
-AI – fresh or frozen semen

Question 29

control of EVA

Answer 29

-serological testing of all stallions
-semen testing for sero-positive stallions to determine carrier status
-vaccination of mares prior to breeding with infected stallion/semen (isolate them for 21d after)
-yearly vaccination of negative stallion; MLV vaccine
-antibody response to vaccination indistinguishable from response to natural infection
-export of sero-positive horses to some countries may not be allowed (keep in mind when advising clients)

Question 30

Contagious equine metritis
-agent
-is it contagious
-spread

Answer 30

-Taylorella equigenitalis (Fastidious microaerophilic, Gram‐negative coccobacillus)

-Federally reportable disease in Canada
-Highly contagious venereal disease
-Spread between mares by infected stallion (Natural cover, AI – in contaminated semen)

Question 31

clinical signs of CEM of mare vs stallions

Answer 31

Mare infertility – signs may range from inapparent to mild to severe
-Acute endometritis
-Copious vaginal discharge
-Signs start 2‐10 days after breeding
-Early return to estrus (7‐10 days)

Stallions – no outward signs
-May be found during testing for export of semen

Question 32

CEM carrier state

Answer 32

-Both stallions and mares can be/become asymptomatic carriers
-No outward signs
-Carry and can transmit the organism
-May be restricted to caudal tract in some carrier mares (Can conceive and carry a foal to term)

Question 33

diagnosis of CEM

Answer 33

-Specific swabs
-Mare: clitoral fossa and clitoral sinuses; cervix or endometrium if not pregnant
-Stallion: urethra, urethral fossa, penile sheath
-Aimes charcoal media
-Must be received at lab within 48 hrs on ice (Complement fixation test)
-rt-PCR
-serology (CF or IFAT) in test mares

Question 34

dfferential diagnosis for CEM

Answer 34

-Klebsiella pneumoniae
-Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Question 35

can you rely on stallions for diagnosis of CEM?

Answer 35

-Cultures in stallions are unreliable for detection of carriers
-Test breeding of 2 mares is required
-These mares are cultured and serum‐tested for CEM

Question 36

treatment of CEM

Answer 36

-Ceruminolytic

-Scrub with chlorhexidine – 4% solution
–>Mare: clitoral body, fossa, sinuses
–>Stallion: penis, prepuce

-Pack with silver sulfadiazine ointment
–>Mare: clitoral fossa, sinuses
–>Stallion: fossa glandis, urethral fossa, prepuce

• +/‐ Add uterine infusion for mares
  -Repeat for 5 days
  -Cultures repeated >7 days after therapy (Three consecutive negatives >7 days apart = clear)

Question 37

prevention of CEM; horses and semen, hygeine

Answer 37

Strict import regulations – horses
-Pre‐importation testing
-Post‐importation quarantine and testing
-~2% of imported stallions found positive for CEM during quarantine in the US

-Strict import regulations – semen

Maintain strict hygiene
-Wash water/buckets
-Disposable phantom covers
-Disposable gloves
-Disinfect equipment