Immunization and diagnosis in bovine reproductive tract infections

Abstract

This chapter discusses immunization and diagnosis in bovine reproductive tract infections. Bovine genital tract infections that result in pregnancy loss are large economic problems in the cattle industry. Such infections can occur by either a hematogenous or an ascending route. Because the diseases acquired by the former route are primarily septicemic whereas local ascending infections are primarily sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), diagnosis and control may differ between these two categories. Systemic infection with localization in the gravid uterus occurs in leptospirosis, systemic campylobacteriosis (caused by Campylobacter fetus subsp, fetus), listeriosis, brucellosis, neosporosis, and Haemophilus sommus infection. In these syndromes, systemic immunity and serologic diagnosis are often reliable. Brucellosis is a good example of hematogenous infection with localization in the gravid uterus because systemic vaccination and serologic assays for diagnosis have been practiced for decades. Haemophilus sommus infection is also presented because it is a septicemic disease causing abortion and many other sequelae, thus immunity is complex.