SOUTH DAKOTA ANIMAL INDUSTRY BOARD
NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 27, 2016
Media Contact: Dr. Mendel Miller, 605.773.3321

Trichomoniasis in South Dakota

Thirteen South Dakota beef herds have been diagnosed with Tritrichomonas foetus (trich) infection since December, 2015. These herds have been detected in Oglala Lakota (6), Dewey (3), Corson (2), Ziebach (1) and Gregory (1) counties. This is a significant increase in the detection of trich infected herds when the number of confirmed cases statewide in the previous five years was only ten.

Trichomoniasis is transmitted between cows and bulls during breeding activity. Once established in the female reproductive tract, trich causes an inflammatory reaction leading to abortion. Cows may eventually clear the infection or may remain carrier animals. There is no treatment for infected bulls.

Producers are often unaware of the problem until the disease is well established in a herd. Signs that the disease may be present in a herd include a high number of open cows or the presence of many late-calving cows, which result from the early term abortions and then rebreeding of the cows.

Also concerning is when cows do not have calves as expected each spring. Cows may have aborted calves after being found pregnant in the fall and after the bulls were removed from the herd, thus they suddenly come up “open” in the spring. These cows should be culled to feeding and slaughter channels as a good management practice. This is especially important if the animals are in an area known to have trich positive herds.

Although infected herds may have 50 percent or more of their cows open in the fall or spring, often the percentage is much lower if the herd became infected late in the previous breeding season. Early detection of the disease is the best way of preventing the economic devastation seen when the disease has a one to two year head start in the herd.

Because they may be infected without outward signs, open cows and non-virgin bulls represent a risk for introduction of this disease to new herds. Any herd that adds non-virgin cows or bulls from an outside source or has commingling (either on purpose or accidental) with another herd may be at some risk for trich infection.

Testing of all non-virgin herd bulls should be strongly considered even if a producer is not a known contact herd. The disease may have serious economic impacts when left undetected. Turning an infected bull out to summer pasture should be avoided at all costs. Testing of all bulls prior to turnout can be done concurrently with breeding soundness exams and is the best way to protect all producers in the area.

In fact, four of the positive herds in the state have been detected recently in conjunction with bulls undergoing normal spring breeding soundness exams in preparation for turn out. South Dakota Animal Industry Board staff is contacting the owners of neighbor and contact herds associated with all known positive herds. However, it is possible other herds in the state could also be affected by the disease. All South Dakota producers, especially those that have cattle on summer pasture in the affected counties are encouraged to trich test their bulls before breeding season.

Producers are encouraged to consult with their local herd veterinarian for more information regarding the risk of trich in their herd. Veterinarians are familiar with the management practices in the area and have the knowledge to assist in all disease prevention, including trich.

Educational materials are also available on the SDAIB, website aib.sd.gov.

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