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Bovine campylobacteriosis in heifer: pathogenesis study and insights in the conventional and molecular diagnosis in an experimental bovine model and field cases

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Abstract

Campylobacter fetus spp. is a bacterium associated to reproductive losses in cattle worldwide. It is a venereal infectious disease known as bovine campilobacteriosis, with high impact mainly in countries with extensive production systems. Here, we show pathogenesis and diagnostic methods for Campylobacter fetus detection in cervico-vaginal mucus (CVM) samples from heifers experimentally infected and field cases from herds with low reproductive performance by campylobacteriosis infection. Bacterial culture, direct immunofluorescence test and qPCR were used as diagnostic methods to evaluate detection of C. fetus. In the experimental model 30 Aberdeen Angus and crossbred heifers and 4 Aberdeen Angus bulls for natural mating were assigned to 3 groups experimentally challenged with C. fetus subsp. fetus (Cff), C. fetus subsps venerealis (Cfv) and C. fetus subsp venerealis biovar intermedius (Cfvi), respectively, and a negative control group, all followed for 9 months. Also, field samples of CVM and aborted fetuses were recollected from seven beef cattle farms. Bacteriological culture had the higher C. fetus detection rate in CVM being the most appropriate, followed by qPCR (with commercial extraction DNA kit), direct immunofluorescence test and qPCR (with in-house extraction DNA method), in both, experimental model and field cases. From experimental model after natural mating, 62.5% and 25% heifers got pregnant from Cff and Cfvi groups, respectively, while from Cfv no pregnancy was detected. The strain more frequently detected was Cfvi, followed by Cff and Cfv. Colonization of Cff in female genital tract with high number of carriers and presence in aborted fetuses was evidenced, suggesting a high risk to bovine reproductive health. Bacteriemia was not detected after genital infection. Given the low detection rate of either test, we suggest the use of both, PCR based methods and bacterial culture could result in higher detection rate in farms with endemic campylobacteriosis.

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Fig. 1

Adapted from García et al. 2021b

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Acknowledgemts

We thank Martin Mayoral, Diego Herrera, Walter Bagazette, Abel Gulle and Cristian Gulle for their help in field sampling. We also thank Jorgelina Lomonaco for the preparation of culture media and material. This article is presented as part of a PhD Degree at the Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Argentina.

Funding

This study was funded by Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) grant: Project PNSA-PD-I103 and Project PNSA-PD-I105; ANPCyT: project PICT2015-1541, project AGR 650/21 and CONICET grant: Project PIP11220150100316CO.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible (IPADS INTA-CONICET), Balcarce, Buenos Aires, 7620, Argentina

    Juan A. García, Florencia Romeo, Andrea Verna, María A. Mendez, Claudia Morsella, Juan F. Aller & Fernando A. Paolicchi

  2. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (IABIMO INTA-CONICET), Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Pablo D. Farace & Andrea K. Gioffre

  3. Instituto de Investigación de la Cadena Láctea (INTA – CONICET), Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina

    Marcelo Signorini

  4. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Balcarce, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Fernando A. Paolicchi

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  1. Juan A. García
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  2. Pablo D. Farace
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. JAG, PF, FR, AV, AKG, MAM and CM performed laboratory analysis and JAG, JA and JFA performed the field assay, included in the present study. Data collection and manuscript preparation was performed by JAG, under supervision of AKG and FAP. MS contributed with statistical analysis. All authors edited, read, and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Juan A. García.

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The experimental procedures were carried out according to the Institutional Committee for the Care and Use of Experimental Animals (CICUAE, INTA-CeRBAS, Argentina): endorsement 163/2018.

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García, J.A., Farace, P.D., Gioffre, A.K. et al. Bovine campylobacteriosis in heifer: pathogenesis study and insights in the conventional and molecular diagnosis in an experimental bovine model and field cases. Vet Res Commun 48, 113–124 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-023-10193-z

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