Validation of a gauze sponge sampling methodology to detect Tritrichomonas foetus by real-time PCR

Bovine Trichomonosis Cases in the United States 2015-2019

Tritrichomonas foetus is a sexually-transmitted protozoan parasite that causes early embryonic death in cattle. Tritrichomonas foetus is enzootic in the United States but is not a reportable disease at the national level. Thus, it is difficult to understand the prevalence and relative distribution of the disease for the purpose of developing appropriate control measures. In this study, a survey of state veterinarians was used to determine the number of reported cases in each state from 2015 to 2019. Our investigation revealed infections in 25 different states and a total of 3,817 reported cases nationwide. Infections occurred throughout different regions of the country, and numbers of cases were only weakly correlated with total number of cattle in each state. Tritrichomonas foetus is a significant pathogen in the United States and understanding the relative distribution of the parasite is useful for prioritizing surveillance and intervention strategies going forward.

Trichomonas

The most widely known trichomonad in veterinary medicine is Tritrichomonas foetus. It is the etiologic agent of bovine tritrichomonosis, a sexually transmitted disease in extensively managed herds throughout many geographic regions worldwide. The same trichomonad species is also regarded as the causative agent of chronic diarrhea in the domestic cat, although more recent studies observed molecular differences between bovine- and feline-derived T. foetus. Trichomonosis in cats has a worldwide distribution and is mainly present among cats from high-density housing environments. Other trichomonads are found as inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tract in birds, such as Trichomonas gallinae. Particularly, Columbiformes, Falconiformes, Strigiformes, and wild Passeriformes can be severely affected by avian trichomonads. Diagnosis of trichomonosis is often complicated by the fragility of the parasite. To ensure valid test results, it is essential to collect and handle specimens in the right way prior to analysis. Cultivation tests, the specific amplification of parasites, or a combination of both test methods is the most efficient and most commonly used way to diagnose trichomonosis in animals. Bovine tritrichomonosis is mainly controlled by the identification and withdrawal of infected animals from bovine herds. The control of feline and avian trichomonosis relies mainly on preventive measures.

Draft Genome Sequence of Tritrichomonas foetus Strain K

The protist Tritrichomonas foetus (Excavata, Parabasalia) is a parasite that causes bovine and feline trichomonosis. Bovine trichomonosis is a venereal disease that leads to abortion and reproductive problems in herds. Feline trichomonosis affects domestic cats. Here, we report the genome sequence of the T. foetus K strain, isolated in Brazil.