Characterization of the Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis Adhesion to Bovine Sperm Cells

Survey of beef bulls in Brazil to assess their role as source of infectious agents related to cow infertility

“…Bulls can be subclinical chronic carriers of the bacterial and protozoal agents involved in the infertility of cows, harboring the pathogens in their preputial crypts, which enables transmission of agents to cows by natural breeding or via stored semen. 10,15,22,27 Therefore, epidemiologic surveillance and disease control are based, primarily, on identifying bulls carrying the infectious agents. In cows, the agents commonly colonize the genital mucosa, mainly in the vagina and uterus, initiating inflammatory reactions that result in an earlier return to estrus, infertility, and sporadic abortion.…”