Not gone but forgotten: Tritrichomonas foetus in extensively-managed bulls from Australia’s Northern Territory
Bovine trichomonosis, caused by infection with the protozoan parasite Tritrichomonas foetus, is globally recognised as a cause of reproductive failure in cattle. Maintained in clinically normal bulls, T. foetus infection results in infertility and abortion in infected cows. In Australia’s Northern T...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Current Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X21000066 |
| _version_ | 1819097159671218176 |
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| author | Nichola Eliza Davies Calvani Jan Šlapeta Emily Onizawa Kieran Eamens Cheryl Jenkins Mark Edward Westman |
| author_facet | Nichola Eliza Davies Calvani Jan Šlapeta Emily Onizawa Kieran Eamens Cheryl Jenkins Mark Edward Westman |
| author_sort | Nichola Eliza Davies Calvani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Bovine trichomonosis, caused by infection with the protozoan parasite Tritrichomonas foetus, is globally recognised as a cause of reproductive failure in cattle. Maintained in clinically normal bulls, T. foetus infection results in infertility and abortion in infected cows. In Australia’s Northern Territory (NT), logistical limitations associated with extensive livestock production inhibit wide-scale testing and diagnosis, allowing the parasite to persist undetected. In the present study, T. foetus was detected in 18/109 preputial cultures collected from bulls on a property in the NT with a history of low birth rates and reproductive failure using real-time PCR testing. Of the T. foetus-positive samples, 13/18 were genotyped using the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS1 and ITS2) and the 5.8S rDNA unit. Selected samples were further characterised using the protein-coding genes of cysteine proteases (CP-1, 2, 4–9) and cytosolic malate dehydrogenase 1 (MDH-1) to determine if the isolates were ‘bovineʼ, ‘felineʼ or ‘Southern Africaʼ genotypes. All samples were 100% identical to the T. foetus ‘bovine’ genotype across all markers. This is the first reported case of trichomonosis in Australian cattle since 1988 and is a reminder that T. foetus should be considered whenever reproductive failure occurs in extensive cattle systems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T00:10:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0448d9e639c543af917fa8eb87653c9c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2667-114X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T00:10:40Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Current Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-0448d9e639c543af917fa8eb87653c9c2022-12-21T18:45:27ZengElsevierCurrent Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases2667-114X2021-01-011100012Not gone but forgotten: Tritrichomonas foetus in extensively-managed bulls from Australia’s Northern TerritoryNichola Eliza Davies Calvani0Jan Šlapeta1Emily Onizawa2Kieran Eamens3Cheryl Jenkins4Mark Edward Westman5Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Environment, Menangle 2565, NSW, Australia; Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Camperdown 2006, NSW, AustraliaSydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Camperdown 2006, NSW, AustraliaElizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Environment, Menangle 2565, NSW, AustraliaElizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Environment, Menangle 2565, NSW, AustraliaElizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Environment, Menangle 2565, NSW, AustraliaElizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Environment, Menangle 2565, NSW, Australia; Corresponding author.Bovine trichomonosis, caused by infection with the protozoan parasite Tritrichomonas foetus, is globally recognised as a cause of reproductive failure in cattle. Maintained in clinically normal bulls, T. foetus infection results in infertility and abortion in infected cows. In Australia’s Northern Territory (NT), logistical limitations associated with extensive livestock production inhibit wide-scale testing and diagnosis, allowing the parasite to persist undetected. In the present study, T. foetus was detected in 18/109 preputial cultures collected from bulls on a property in the NT with a history of low birth rates and reproductive failure using real-time PCR testing. Of the T. foetus-positive samples, 13/18 were genotyped using the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS1 and ITS2) and the 5.8S rDNA unit. Selected samples were further characterised using the protein-coding genes of cysteine proteases (CP-1, 2, 4–9) and cytosolic malate dehydrogenase 1 (MDH-1) to determine if the isolates were ‘bovineʼ, ‘felineʼ or ‘Southern Africaʼ genotypes. All samples were 100% identical to the T. foetus ‘bovine’ genotype across all markers. This is the first reported case of trichomonosis in Australian cattle since 1988 and is a reminder that T. foetus should be considered whenever reproductive failure occurs in extensive cattle systems.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X21000066Bovine trichomonosisCultureDiagnosisInfertilityInternal transcribed spacer regionsMolecular characterisation |
| spellingShingle | Nichola Eliza Davies Calvani Jan Šlapeta Emily Onizawa Kieran Eamens Cheryl Jenkins Mark Edward Westman Not gone but forgotten: Tritrichomonas foetus in extensively-managed bulls from Australia’s Northern Territory Current Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases Bovine trichomonosis Culture Diagnosis Infertility Internal transcribed spacer regions Molecular characterisation |
| title | Not gone but forgotten: Tritrichomonas foetus in extensively-managed bulls from Australia’s Northern Territory |
| title_full | Not gone but forgotten: Tritrichomonas foetus in extensively-managed bulls from Australia’s Northern Territory |
| title_fullStr | Not gone but forgotten: Tritrichomonas foetus in extensively-managed bulls from Australia’s Northern Territory |
| title_full_unstemmed | Not gone but forgotten: Tritrichomonas foetus in extensively-managed bulls from Australia’s Northern Territory |
| title_short | Not gone but forgotten: Tritrichomonas foetus in extensively-managed bulls from Australia’s Northern Territory |
| title_sort | not gone but forgotten tritrichomonas foetus in extensively managed bulls from australia s northern territory |
| topic | Bovine trichomonosis Culture Diagnosis Infertility Internal transcribed spacer regions Molecular characterisation |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X21000066 |
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