Ureaplasma diversum and reproductive disorder in Brazilian cows and heifers; first report

Abstract

The species Ureaplasma diversum is associated with bovine reproductive illnesses, in particular granular lesions of the vulva and vagina or granular vulvovaginitis (GVV). In Brazil, this pathology is unknown and, until this point in time, the presence of U. diversum in the Brazilian herds has been ignored. With the intention of detecting the microorganism, vulvovaginal mucuses of 152 animals located on seven farms in the São Paulo State, Brazil were analyzed. Those animals had evidence of reproductive disorders at the time of the sample collection. The technique used for microorganism detection was bacterial isolation. Statistical analysis assessed: the exposure of studied farms to U. diversum, relative risks for different symptoms, susceptibility of the animals according to age and breed. The frequency of that microorganism in tested animals was 38.8% and this frequency suggests that U. diversum can be related to GVV in Brazilian herds and possibly with other reproductive illnesses. As a result, the U. diversum differential diagnosis could be very important.