title: Experimental infection with Tritrichomonas suis in heifers.
abstract: Nine heifers were intravaginally challenged with 9.3x10(6) Tritrichomonas suis reference strains. Vaginal mucus and serum samples were collected weekly 4 weeks post-inoculation. Vaginal mucus was cultured for T. suis and sera was tested by ELISA against whole cell antigens for T. suis and Tritrichomonas foetus. All vaginal mucus cultures were T. suis-negative during the experiment. ELISA values for both antigens were similar and differences were not significant (P>0.05). Positive control serum samples from one heifer vaccinated against T. foetus showed anti-T. suis ELISA values. We concluded that T. suis intravaginal inoculation induced a low level of serum immune response in heifers measured by ELISA and both protozoa probably share a common antigen. However, under the experimental conditions of this trial, colonization of the heifers' genital tract was not possible in any of the nine animals.
authors.affiliation: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentina.
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Cobo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cano
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Campero
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D011529:Protozoan Infections, Animal; D014318:Tritrichomonas; D014621:Vagina / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan