GENITAL TRACT LESIONS AND THE ISOLATION OF Ureaplasma diversum FROM THE REPRODUCTIVE TRACT OF NORMAL AND REPEAT BREEDING DAIRY COWS

Abstract

This study was conducted in 78 dairy cows(50 repeat breeders and 28 normal cows, with no history of breeding difficulty) from 6 livestock regions of Thailand. Observations were made on the lesions of granular vulvitis and bacteriology performed in order to isolate Ureaplasma diversum. Swabs were taken from 3 sites; the clitoral fossa, the dorsal vulva lips and the external cervical osteum. The isolation of U. diversum was carried out using Taylor Robinson Medium. In the repeat breeding group, U. diversum was isolated from 46% of the clitoral swabs, 48% of the vulva lip swabs and 22% of the external cervical osteum swabs. Lesions at the vulva lips, the clitoral fossa and the cervical area were observed in 66% 46% and 2% respectively. Genital lesions were also observed in 14.3%(clitoral fossa) and 50%(vulva lips) in cows with no history of breeding difficulty. In cows without lesions in the cervical area 14.3% had cultures positive for U. diversum.
86.1% of these were from the vulva lips and 53.1% from the clitoral fossa.
It can be concluded from this study that U. diversum is commonly found in the clitoral fossa and the vulva lips of both normal and repeat breeding cows. This makes it important that sanitary controls are routinely practiced, to avoid introducing the organism into the uterus during artificial insemination.