In vitro culture of Tritrichomonas foetus in bovine cervico-vaginal fluid

Franco Paradiso; Jorge Oyhenart

doi:10.1016/j.exppara.2023.108532

In vitro culture of Tritrichomonas foetus in bovine cervico-vaginal fluid

Exp Parasitol. 2023 Jun:249:108532. doi: 10.1016/j.exppara.2023.108532. Epub 2023 Apr 13.

Authors

Franco Paradiso¹, Jorge Oyhenart²

Affiliations

¹ INCITAP, CONICET-UNLPam, Santa Rosa, La Pampa, Argentina.
² INCITAP, CONICET-UNLPam, Santa Rosa, La Pampa, Argentina. Electronic address: jorgeoyhenart@conicet.gov.ar.

PMID: 37061154
DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2023.108532

Abstract

Tritrichomonas foetus is the causative agent of bovine trichomonosis, a venereal disease that can lead to fetal loss. T. foetus proliferates in the vagina and cervix and invades the uterus and fetal cavities. It is not clear how T. foetus grows in the host or how its infection rarely demonstrable after 4 months, is controlled. Cervical vaginal mucus (CVM) is a protective barrier against potentially harmful microorganisms. Here, we demonstrate that bovine CVM is a medium in which this protozoan parasite can grow in vitro. T. foetus multiplied at different rates depending on the time of the estrous period from which the CVM was obtained. Growth rates were higher in CVM obtained 7-10 days after estrus.

Keywords: Abortion; Cow; Microorganism; Trichomonas; Venereal.

MeSH terms

Animals
Cattle
Cattle Diseases* / parasitology
Cervix Uteri
Female
Fetus
Protozoan Infections* / parasitology
Protozoan Infections, Animal* / parasitology
Tritrichomonas foetus*
Vagina / parasitology