Reproductive Infectious Diseases Study Guide

Reproductive Infectious Diseases

• This is a study guide on reproductive infectious diseases in animals.

Organisms Covered

• The study will cover the following for each organism:
  • Type of organism
  • Transmission route
  • Age and characteristics of affected animals
  • Clinical signs (illnesses/symptoms)
  • Disease control/prevention measures
  • Available diagnostics and sample choices

Chlamydia

• Family: Chlamydiaceae
• Genera: Chlamydia and Chlamydophila
• Species: Many species affect animals, including C. abortus, C. avium, C. psittaci, C. felis, C. suis, C. buteonis, C. caviae, C. gallinacea, C. muridarum, C. pecorum, C. pneumoniae, C poikilotherma, C serpentis. C. trachomatis is in the Chlamydia genus.
• Obligate intracellular organism: They need a host cell to survive and reproduce.
• Gram-negative: But Gram staining is often poor.
• Transmission: Aerosolization, ingestion, and direct contact. Secretions (even dried) and feces can persist in soil and feces for extended periods.
• Reproductive Clinical Signs (Females): Endometritis, metritis, abortion, stillbirth.
• Reproductive Clinical Signs (Males): Orchitis, epididymitis, urethritis. This can lead to infertility or poor reproductive performance.
• C. abortus: Most common cause of abortion in small ruminants (sheep and goats). Often associated with "Ovine Enzootic Abortion."
• Zoonotic potential: Chlamydia can affect humans, food-producing animals, companion animals (especially cats), mammalian wildlife, and avian, reptile, amphibian, and aquatic species. Humans can experience fever, headache, pneumonia, C. psittaci causing splenic enlargement, and C. abortus associated with abortion in women.
• Precautions: Use personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling animals with possible chlamydial infections and especially abortions in ruminants (cows, sheep, goats). Communicable to people via contact with shedding caged pet birds.

Campylobacter

• Species: C. fetus venerealis (only in the reproductive tract), C. fetus fetus (gastrointestinal [GI] tract, sometimes reproductive tract), C. jejuni (GI tract, sometimes reproductive tract).
• Bacteria shape: Curved, "C-" or "S"-shaped.
• Gram stain: Negative
• Growth conditions: Microaerophilic (limited oxygen)
• Motility: Polar flagella (whip-like structures) leading to wet/spreading colonies on culture.
• Reproductive Signs (Bulls): Inapparent infections of the penis and prepuce (area around the penis)
• Reproductive Signs (Cows): Clinical signs mostly apparent in naïve cows, meaning those without established immunity. There is local IgA and prolonged shedding of bacteria possible, and co-infection with Trichomonas is possible.
• Bovine Genital Campylobacteriosis: Mucopurulent endometritis (inflammation of the uterus), infertility, early embryonic death, and abortion are possible. Diagnostic challenge: low counts. Diagnostics include culturing fetal stomach contents & vaginal mucus agglutination tests. Prevention: Vaccination or artificial insemination.

Ovine Cases

• Data on ovine (sheep) cases with Campylobacter. Includes percentages and occurrences of gross/microscopic findings like placentitis, bacterial colonies, vasculitis, supple, liver pneumonia, and more.

Taylorella equigenitalis

• Gram stain: Negative (rod or cocci)
• Cause: Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM)
• Status: Largely eradicated from the U.S. via testing and quarantine.
• Infected Areas: External genitalia, specifically the urethra, urethral fossa, penile sheath of stallions, clitoral fossae of mares.
• Diagnosis: Culture and serology from federally approved labs.

Leptospirosis

• Species affected: Abortion in multiple animal species, such as skunks ( Leptospira interrogans sub-species Kennewecki), raccoons (Leptospira interrogans sub-species Gryppotyphosa), and cattle (Leptospira interrogans sub-species Hardjo).

Equine Arteritis Virus (EVA)

• Virus family: Arteriviridae
• Host: Horses, camelids
• Clinical signs: Acute upper respiratory infection, fever exceeding 105°F, conjunctivitis, nasal discharge, leukopenia (low white blood cell count), dependent edema, abortions, and urticaria (hives).
• Transmission: Venereal, frozen semen & horizontal/lateral spread (between animals that are close). Saddlebreds and Standardbreds are potentially susceptible. Carriers including stallions are possible.
• Diagnosis: Virus isolation or RT-PCR analysis on blood or tissue samples.
• Treatment: Most horses recover without treatment, but antibiotics can prevent secondary infections.
• Prevention: Vaccines are available for attenuated and inactivated strains. Vaccination of colts (young male horses) and mares (female horses) before breeding are effective strategies.

EHV-3

• Virus type: Herpesvirus
• Infected Area: Reproductive tract, specifically superficial external genitalia. Stallions and mares can be affected.
• Transmission: Skin-to-skin contact.
• Treatment: No specific treatment exists.

This quiz provides an overview of reproductive infectious diseases in animals, focusing on various organisms like Chlamydia. It covers transmission routes, clinical signs, characteristics of affected animals, control measures, and diagnostic options. Engage with this material to enhance your understanding of animal health.