Trichom*oniasis in Cattle - Tennessee Department of Agriculture (2024)

FAQs

What is the prognosis of trichom*oniasis in cattle? ›

Trichom*oniasis (Trich) in Cattle

While heifers usually rid themselves of Trichom*oniasis in three to six months, bulls carry the infection for life without showing any symptoms. With no medically approved cures available, detection and control of infected bulls is key to containing the disease.

Test for Trich as Part of Herd Management Biosecurity

Performing diagnostic testing for bovine trichom*oniasis, commonly referred to as Trich, 60 days prior to the breeding season and at the end of the breeding season should be a critical component of a producer's plan for herd management biosecurity.

Imidazoles have been used to treat infected bulls, but none is both safe and effective. Control is by culling infected bulls.

It will only cost another $1.50 per cow to perform a Breeding Soundness Exam on the herd bulls to find any bulls that are “infertile” or “sub-fertile.” The total cost is $4.43 per cow for Trich testing and Breeding Sound Exams.

Trichom*oniasis is usually treated quickly and easily with antibiotics. Most people are prescribed an antibiotic called metronidazole, which is very effective if taken correctly. You'll usually have to take metronidazole twice a day, for 5 to 7 days. Sometimes this antibiotic can be prescribed in a single, larger dose.

Without treatment, trich can last for months or even years. It won't go away on its own. The entire time you're infected, you can give the infection to your sexual partners. It's important that all sex partners are treated to prevent re-infection.

qPCR results are typically generated within 2-3 days. qPCR can distinguish between Tritrichom*onas foetusand other trichom*onads. In some instances, one qPCR test may be accepted versus three separate culture tests.

T foetus has been found in vagin*l cultures taken as late as 8 months of gestation and, apparently, live calves can be born to infected dams.

Vaccine proven to reduce the spread of trichom*oniasis. TRICHGUARD is the first vaccine licensed to reduce shedding of Tritrichom*onas foetus organisms, and thus helps protect against the spread of trichom*oniasis in cattle, a venereal disease spread by bulls that can lead to lost pregnancies and open cows.

Ivermectin have anti-parasitic activity upon trichom*onas trophozoites.

How can you prevent bovine trichom*oniasis? ›

A New Treatment Option for Trichom*oniasis: Single-Dose Secnidazole. Sponsored by: Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Trichom*oniasis is the most prevalent nonviral sexually transmitted infection (STI) worldwide. As a nonreportable STI, reported prevalence estimates of trichom*oniasis have varied.

After a few heat cycles, most cows and heifers clean themselves up, but this may take months. Research is showing that up to six months may be required in some cases, but one month to 4 months is more common.

You can also buy at-home collection kits to test for trichom*oniasis and other STDs. With these kits, you collect a sample of urine or vagin*l fluid to send to a lab for testing. It's important to follow all the instructions carefully.

Cultures can correctly detect an active infection in 70 to 85% of patients with trichom*oniasis, although this can vary based on the type of test sample being evaluated. A positive result indicates that you likely have trichom*oniasis.

In females, trichom*oniasis is a common cause of vagin*l discharge and is associated with poor birth outcomes and increased risk of pelvic inflammatory disease. In males, trichom*oniasis is often asymptomatic and associated with increased risk of epididymitis, prostatitis and decreased sperm motility.

With recommended dosages, the expected cure rate of trichom*oniasis is 95%. Tinidazole is generally more expensive than metronidazole but also seems to persist in serum longer. Some research suggests that tinidazole has fewer side effects than metronidazole, but not all studies have found this result.

Trich is the most common curable STD. A healthcare provider can treat the infection with medication (pills) taken by mouth. This treatment is also safe for pregnant people. If you receive and complete treatment for trich, you can still get it again.

What are the long-term health effects? New research has found a correlation between infected males and increased risk of prostate cancer. In women, trich has been found to increase the risk of HIV infection, AIDS, and cervical cancer.