title: Detection of antibodies specific to Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis in the vaginal mucus of Nigerian breeding cows.
abstract: The presence of bovine venereal campylobacteriosis in the Lake Chad Basin of Nigeria was investigated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of IgA antibodies specific to Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis in vaginal mucus (n = 66). IgA antibodies specific to C. fetus subsp. venerealis were detected in 7 (11%) vaginal mucus samples. All but one of the IgA-positive samples originated from cows belonging to herds with a history of abortion and infertility which suggested an association between antibody detection and poor herd fertility. It was concluded that bovine venereal campylobacteriosis is prevalent in the Lake Chad Basin of Nigeria and its contribution to reduced reproductive performance in cattle herds may be grossly underestimated in this part of the world.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, University of Liverpool, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Leahurst, Neston, Cheshire CH64 7TE, United Kingdom. gdmshelia@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Gideon D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Mshelia
authors.forename: Jibrilla D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.forename: Godwin O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Egwu
authors.forename: Christine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Yavari
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Zerai
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Woldehiwet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D002168:Campylobacter fetus / Q000276:immunology*; D002417:Cattle / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D009093:Mucus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D009549:Nigeria; D014621:Vagina
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial