Vibriosis

Vibriosis is a venereal disease causing infertility and,
occasionally, abortion. It is caused by the bacterium
Campylobacter fetus, which lives in the crevices of a bull's
prepuce (foreskin), but usually does not become established
in the bull until it is about 4 years old or older.

Vibriosis is spread from an infected bull to a cow during
the breeding act. Bulls also may be infected by breeding
infected cows. Although semen from reputable bull studs is
usually"clean" because of proper health examinations of
the bulls and treatment of semen, this disease can be transmitted
through artificial insemination if these precautions
are not taken.

Untreated, infected bulls can remain carriers for a long
time. They also can be "clean" yet transmit the germ from
an infected cow to a "clean" cow.

Vibriosis in females causes endometritis (infection of the
inner lining of the uterus), resulting in failure to conceive or
death of the embryo. Affected cows may conceive and not
return to heat 21 days later. However, the newly formed
embryo may then die, become absorbed by the cow and
then she may exhibit estrus from 27 to 53 days after breeding.
Abortions late in gestation can occur, but are unusual.
Diagnosis is difficult and depends on identifying cultures
of the organism from the genitalia of the infected cow
or bull, or from the abomasum (fourth stomach chamber) of
an aborted fetus.                                                                    

Prevent vibriosis by vaccinating cattle, using artificial insemination, treating infected animals, or combining all three.