It has come to our attention that a dairy herd in the state of Washington has experienced some pyometras in cows (cows with a pus-filled uterus and a corpus luteum (CL) on an ovary). Samples were sent by the veterinarian to the diagnostic lab and came back positive for trichomoniasis. Although we know that there have been infected beef bulls in the state, this is the first that we know of infected dairy animals in Washington .

Trichomoniasis is a venereal disease of cattle and is transmitted to cows by infected bulls. Bulls do not show any signs of disease and carry the single-celled organisms in deep crypts in the prepuce. Infected cows will be infertile or abort and can serve as a reservoir for uninfected bulls to become infected. Although infected cows can be identified by laboratory testing, most will clear the Trichomonas infection over a number of months.  Thus, prevention and eradication of the disease is primarily focused upon laboratory testing and culling of infected bulls.  All bulls entering the herd should be tested.

Samples from bulls should be taken in a very specific way so as to not miss any infected bulls.  Veterinarians in Washington must be certified by training from WSDA veterinarians or by participating in our on-line course on trich testing. The course for veterinarians and additional information on trichomoniaisis can be found at our website: http://vetextension.wsu.edu/programs/bovine/trich/index.htm

If you are a dairy or beef cattle producer and have any cows with pyometra or suspect a fertility problems in your cows, call your veterinarian. Veterinarians can send uterine fluid samples and preputial scrapings to WSU-WADDL. For accession forms and diagnostic lab information, go to: http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts_waddl/

Please feel free to forward this information.

Dale A. Moore , DVM MPVM PhD

Director,Veterinary Medicine Extension

College of Veterinary Medicine

Washington State University

P.O. Box 646610

Pullman WA 99164-6610

(509) 335-7494

http://vetextension.wsu.edu/