Important Sexually Transmitted Diseases from Bulls to Cows
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Although the list of diseases that can be transmitted through mating or semen is large, in this article only highlights important and commonly encountered diseases. Farmers should ensure that bulls being used in the breeding programs are free from infections transmissible through semen. These diseases are:
- Brucellosis
- Toxoplasmosis
- IBRInfectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis is respiratory disease of cattle caused by virus.
- Trichomoniasis
It is mandatory for the semen suppliers to get their bulls tested against these diseases periodically. You must ask the supplier company or your AIArtificial insemination is a scientific method of making female animal pregnant by putting seman inside her uterus or cervix Technician to provide information about test results. In case you have a bull used for breeding purpose, it must be tested annually or at least every two years for the above diseases. Please note that in case of bulls these diseases may not show overt signs in early stages but when the causative organisms are transmitted to cows, complex disease syndromes might result. Most of these cause infertility, abortion or sub-fertility hence these are of huge economic importance.
Material to be collected for testing:
| Brucellosis | Semen sample PCRPolymerase Chain Reaction test / bacterial culture |
| Toxoplasmosis | Serum TitreSerum titers are blood tests for antibodies levels that measure whether or not you are immune to a given disease. |
| Trichomoniasis | Preputial wash for microscopic examination |
Please Note: To declare a bull positive for the above diseases ensure that the tests are done at least twice 21 days apart.
Laboratories where tests can be ordered
Department of Microbiology
Bombay Veterinary College, Parel, Mumbai 400 012; phone 22-2413 0162; 2413 1180
Department of Pathology / Microbiology
Nagpur Veterinary College, Seminary Hills, Nagpur.
GenOmbio Technologies
VEDANT, S. No. 39/3, H. No. 1043, Yogi Park, Off Mumbai – Bangalore Expressway, 411 045, Baner Pune; Phone – 996000098
Sandor Animal Biogenics Pvt. Ltd.
# 8-2-326/5, Road No.3, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad – 500 034. A.P., INDIA.
Telephone: +91 –40 2335 7048, 2335 4824; Mobile: +91 73 82 62 18 17; Fax: +91 –40 2335 7046; E-mail: info@sandorbiogenics.co.in
Chitale Diagnositic Laboratory
Bhilwadi Station, Taluka Palus, Dist. Sangli.