Important Sexually Transmitted Diseases from Bulls to Cows

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Although the list of diseases that can be transmitted through mating or semen is large, in this article only highlights important and commonly encountered diseases. Farmers should ensure that bulls being used in the breeding programs are free from infections transmissible through semen. These diseases are:

  • Brucellosis
  • Toxoplasmosis
  • IBRInfectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis is respiratory disease of cattle caused by virus.
  • Trichomoniasis

It is mandatory for the semen suppliers to get their bulls tested against these diseases periodically. You must ask the supplier company or your AIArtificial insemination is a scientific method of making female animal pregnant by putting seman inside her uterus or cervix Technician to provide information about test results.  In case you have a bull used for breeding purpose, it must be tested annually or at least every two years for the above diseases. Please note that in case of bulls these diseases may not show overt signs in early stages but when the causative organisms are transmitted to cows, complex disease syndromes might result. Most of these cause infertility, abortion or sub-fertility hence these are of huge economic importance.   

Material to be collected for testing:

 Brucellosis   Semen sample  PCRPolymerase Chain Reaction test / bacterial culture
Toxoplasmosis Serum TitreSerum titers are blood tests for antibodies levels that measure whether or not you are immune to a given disease.
Trichomoniasis  Preputial wash for microscopic examination

Please Note:  To declare a bull positive for the above diseases ensure that the tests are done at least twice 21 days apart.

Laboratories where tests can be ordered

Department of Microbiology

Bombay Veterinary College, Parel, Mumbai 400 012; phone 22-2413 0162; 2413 1180

Department of Pathology / Microbiology

Nagpur Veterinary College, Seminary Hills, Nagpur.

GenOmbio Technologies

VEDANT, S. No. 39/3, H. No. 1043, Yogi Park, Off Mumbai – Bangalore Expressway, 411 045, Baner Pune; Phone – 996000098

Sandor Animal Biogenics Pvt. Ltd.

# 8-2-326/5, Road No.3, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad – 500 034. A.P., INDIA.
Telephone: +91 –40 2335 7048, 2335 4824; Mobile: +91 73 82 62 18 17; Fax: +91 –40 2335 7046; E-mail: info@sandorbiogenics.co.in

Chitale Diagnositic Laboratory

Bhilwadi Station, Taluka Palus, Dist. Sangli.


Dr. Abdul Samad
M.V.Sc., Ph.D. (Canada)
Dairy Consultant