Campylobacteriosis:

Synonyms: Vibriosis, Abortion, Epizootic abortion

• It is contagious venereal disease of cattle characterized by infertility with repeat breeding.
• Early abortions are common and late abortions from 4 months of gestation to full term are occasionally observed.

Etiology:

• Campylobacter foetus which was formerly known as Vibrio foetus.
• Organism is comma or S-shaped and occasionally as longer spirals.
• Organism is motile, and has no capsule and doesnot form spores.
• It requires 10% CO₂ for initial isolation.
• Campylobacter jejuni is causative agent for diarrhea in man and animals.

Epidemiology:

• Disease has been recognized from various countries of world.
• Disease has been reported from India also.
• In a study conducted on Germany, overall incidence of disease was found to be low. Decade later, disease is considered to be eradicated from country.
• This disease has been listed as OIE trade related disease by WOAH.
• Cows generally clear infection within ~3–6 months and may develop immunity, but may act as short-term carriers.
• Enzootic in herds that maintain natural breeding.
• Seasonal influence minimal, but reproductive losses most evident during breeding/calving seasons.
• Carrier bulls are the key reservoir; infection can persist for life in older bulls.

Transmission:

• Organism are found within bovine reproductive tract. In bulls, organism remain confined to prepucial cavity and mucosa of glans penis, prepuce and distal portion of urethra.
• Infection usually spread from cow to bull or bull to cow during coitus.
• Through artificial insemination with infected bull semen
• Transmission within bulls occurs by use of contaminated semen collecting apparatus.
• Contaminated bedding materials also serves as source for infection within herd.

Pathogenesis:

Clinical Findings:

• Abortion is the chief sign of infection with greatest incidence between 4-7^th
• Placenta is expelled in case of early abortion. However, in late abortion, placenta is usually retained.
• Slight mucopurulent discharge
• During heat period, mucus is cloudy with several clots and increase in amount.
• Placenta & aborted fetus reveals necrosis, placentitis & fetal bronchopneumonia

PM Findings:

• Catarrhal inflammation of cervix and vagina
• There is slight endometritis and necrosis of cotyledons.
• Edematous inter-cotyledonary areas
• Fetus usually shows autolytic changes. There is signs of gastric edema and focal necrotic hepatitis in lamb.
• Cotyledons may be hemorrhagic.

Diagnosis:

• Breeding history, abortion, temporary infertility or delayed conception associated with frequent and irregular estrus are indication of presence of disease.
• Demonstration of organism in smears from content of cotyledons and vaginal mucus.
• Isolation and identification of organism by culture. Vaginal mucus is ideal material for culture.
• Vaginal mucus agglutination test
• Indirect hemagglutination test
• FAT

Differential Diagnosis:

1. Trichomoniasis:

• Abortion usually occurs in first trimester.
• Protozoa can be demonstrated from examination of mucus.

2. Brucellosis:

• Abortion usually occurs during last trimester; 6^th-9^th months
• Demonstration of brucella in cultural examination
• Hygroma of knees is usual feature.

Treatment:

• Organism is sensitive to streptomycin. Infusion of streptomycin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline in prepuce and penis of buck and genitalia of cow, heifer is recommended.
• Streptomycin @10 mg/lb, b.wt. and 50% solution of same antibiotic locally
• Gentamicin @ 2-3 mg/kg, b.wt. IM or 20-30 ml IM BID in 1^st day and OD from 2^nd-5^th day
• Ciprofloxacin @ 2-4 mg/kg b.wt. x OD x I/M x 3-5 days.

Control Measures:

• Disease must be treated as herd basis in cows and heifers.
• All females which may have been exposed to infection should be inseminated artificially from non-infected bulls.
• Infected bulls should be culled from the herd.
• Strict hygienic and biosecurity measures should be adopted in farm.
• AI with disease free semen is best method to control disease.
• Bulls and heifers/cows in endemic or disease susceptible areas should be screened for infection before breeding.
• Separate semen collecting apparatus should be used for collecting semen.
• Semen should be examined for disease before use.
• Vaccination have been used with fair success.