Tritrichomonas foetus in Beef Bulls

Abstract

Tritrichomonas foetus is a production and regulatory concern for beef producers in the Western United States and more recently in states of the Mississippi Valley. Traditionally preputial scrapings have been collected, cultured in enriched media, and examined microscopically. PCR techniques are now being used extensively to confirm culture results or as a stand-alone test for the organism. This technology offers the advantage of distinguishing the pathogenic Tritrichomonas foetus organism from other nonpathogenic fecal organisms.