Risk factors associated with Tritrichomonas foetus infection in beef herds in the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract

Bovine trichomonosis (BT) is a contagious disease, characterized by reproductive failure, embryonic losses, infertility, and abortions, which directly impacts the reproductive performance of cattle. In this cross-sectional questionnaire-based study, 56 veterinarians provided information on the geographic location and on the demographic, husbandry, and sanitary characteristics of 173 beef herds located in 26 (21%) counties of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Herds rearing beef cattle (OR=2.5, 95% CI=1.0, 6.3), with low pregnancy rate in cows (<or=90%) (OR=4.1, 95% CI=1.5, 10.8), sharing livestock with other owners or farmers (OR=5.4, 95% CI=1.8, 16.5), and where trichomonosis was reported during the previous year (OR=4.1, 95% CI=1.7, 9.6) were at significantly greater risk of being BT positive. This study provided information for future risk assessment and/or management plans for the prevention and control of BT in a region where the disease is considered to be endemic.