Performing Department
Veterinary Sciences
Non Technical Summary
Bovine trichomoniasis is a worldwide disease caused by the parasitic protozoan Tritrichomonas foetus. This sexually-transmitted disease leads to infertility, abortion, and womb infections in female cattle. It is been found in many US states, especially in the Midwest and West, including Wyoming. It results in large economic losses for the cattle industry, particularly in cow-calf operations that depend on natural service. The Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory (WSVL) has been providing trichomoniasis testing for over three decades. The state has regulated the disease for the last 10 years through the Wyoming Livestock Board (WLSB)-mandated testing of bulls. A total of 14 of 23 Wyoming counties in the state had positive herds in the three years between 2007 and 2009. In spite of the state-testing program, the disease persists and important questions remain unanswered. What is the true prevalence of the disease in Wyoming What risk factors affect persistence of the disease, in spite of mandatory testing, as well its prevalence and spread to new ranches What additional effective measures need to be taken to control the disease in our state Our long-term goal is to eradicate the disease in Wyoming. The purpose of this proposal is to comprehensively investigate trichomoniasis status in Wyoming beef cattle and develop an integrated, yet affordable and acceptable, approach to control the disease. Two specific aims are included in the proposal. AIM 1: To identify risk factors associated with beef cattle trichomoniasis. This is achieved by a survey of Wyoming beef cattle ranchers using a questionnaire. AIM 2: To perform a longitudinal investigation of trichomoniasis on production facilities of various sizes. Sampling of beef cattle ranches of various operations from small through medium to large scales will be carried out. Bulls will be tested annually prior to and post breeding season in all ranches, and cows will be monitored for pregnancy status and infections on the ranches where infected bulls have been identified. The significance of the project is to provide an epidemiological snapshot of trichomoniasis in Wyoming and to provide WLSB with better information so the state rules governing the disease will be refined so that it can be eradicated in Wyoming.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
Objectives of this current grant application are to better define the epidemiology of trichomoniasis in beef cattle in Wyoming and refine the state rules governing the disease so that it is both affordable and integrated with production practices in the state. Two specific aims are included. AIM 1: To identify risk factors associated with the spread and persistence of beef cattle trichomoniasis. This will be achieved by a survey of Wyoming beef cattle ranchers using a questionnaire. AIM 2: To undertake a longitudinal investigation of trichomoniasis using a two-year testing program on representative properties of varying sizes. Bulls will be tested yearly prior to and post breeding season in all ranches, and cows will be monitored for pregnancy status and infections on ranches with infected herds.
Project Methods
AIM 1: To identify risk factors associated with the spread of trichomoniasis on Wyoming ranches. This will be approached through a questionnaire survey of ranchers. It will address trichomoniasis status in the last three years, bull ages and testing, vaccination of cows against venereal diseases and fence repair. The operations with 1-49 head, 50-99 head, 100-499 head and >500 head cows statistically required for the survey will be 104, 62, 122 and 26, respectively. These represent 4.5%, 9.3%, 8.1% and 7.9% of all operations for 2009, the latest data available. Once questionnaires are collected, they will be assessed for completeness. A telephone follow-up will be done for each incomplete questionnaire. Only complete ones will be used for analyses. Answers to each question will be statistically analyzed, and the correlation with trichomoniasis calculated. We anticipate some factors, i.e., risk factors, will be correlated with this disease in beef cattle. This will indicate risk factors contributing to the prevalence and spread of trichomoniasis. AIM 2: Longitudinal investigation for trichomoniasis on selected properties of varying sizes. Representative ranches of small, medium and large operations will be picked at random across the state in a field study. All bulls included in the study will be tested. In contrast, cows will be randomly sampled and tested in trichomoniasis-positive ranches. Positive females will be separated from the remainder of herds, and their status will be monitored in the next two years by collecting samples in the alternate months.