Bovine campylobacteriosis in heifer: pathogenesis study and insights in the conventional and molecular diagnosis in an experimental bovine model and field cases

• Published in: Veterinary research communications Vol. 48; no. 1; pp. 113 - 124
• Main Authors: García, Juan A., Farace, Pablo D., Gioffre, Andrea K., Romeo, Florencia, Verna, Andrea, Mendez, María A., Morsella, Claudia, Aller, Juan F., Signorini, Marcelo, Paolicchi, Fernando A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-02-2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Bacteremia; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Campylobacter; Campylobacter fetus; Campylobacter Infections - diagnosis; Campylobacter Infections - veterinary; Campylobacteriosis; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - epidemiology; Cervix Uteri; DNA; Farms; Female; Fetuses; Genital tract; Immunofluorescence; Infectious diseases; Life Sciences; Male; Mating; Pathogenesis; Reproductive health; Vagina - microbiology; Veterinary Medicine/Veterinary Science; Zoology; Sexually transmitted disease; Molecular tests; Ruminants; Bovine genital campylobacteriosis; Experimental model
• ISSN: 0165-7380; 1573-7446
• DOI: 10.1007/s11259-023-10193-z

Campylobacter fetus
spp. is a bacterium associated to reproductive losses in cattle worldwide. It is a venereal infectious disease known as bovine campilobacteriosis, with high impact mainly in countries with extensive production systems. Here, we show pathogenesis and diagnostic methods for
Campylobacter fetus
detection in cervico-vaginal mucus (CVM) samples from heifers experimentally infected and field cases from herds with low reproductive performance by campylobacteriosis infection. Bacterial culture, direct immunofluorescence test and qPCR were used as diagnostic methods to evaluate detection of
C. fetus
. In the experimental model 30 Aberdeen Angus and crossbred heifers and 4 Aberdeen Angus bulls for natural mating were assigned to 3 groups experimentally challenged with
C. fetus
subsp.
fetus
(
Cff
),
C. fetus
subsps
venerealis
(
Cfv
) and
C. fetus
subsp
venerealis
biovar intermedius (
Cfvi
), respectively, and a negative control group, all followed for 9 months. Also, field samples of CVM and aborted fetuses were recollected from seven beef cattle farms. Bacteriological culture had the higher
C. fetus
detection rate in CVM being the most appropriate, followed by qPCR (with commercial extraction DNA kit), direct immunofluorescence test and qPCR (with in-house extraction DNA method), in both, experimental model and field cases. From experimental model after natural mating, 62.5% and 25% heifers got pregnant from
Cff
and
Cfvi
groups, respectively, while from
Cfv
no pregnancy was detected. The strain more frequently detected was
Cfvi
, followed by
Cff
and
Cfv
. Colonization of
Cff
in female genital tract with high number of carriers and presence in aborted fetuses was evidenced, suggesting a high risk to bovine reproductive health. Bacteriemia was not detected after genital infection. Given the low detection rate of either test, we suggest the use of both, PCR based methods and bacterial culture could result in higher detection rate in farms with endemic campylobacteriosis.