Campylobacter foetus subsp. venerealis Culture

These organisms can establish on the preputial mucosa of largely asymptomatic bulls, and be transmitted during coitus, resulting in infertility and abortion.  Samples require the use of a “Tricamper” collection tool, and the sample collected can be used for culture or PCR.

Tricamper™ sampling devices are available from Gribbles Veterinary Pathology.

Species:

Bovine

Specimen:

Preputial scraping/washing or anterior vaginal/cervical scrapings/mucus.

Container:

Sterile pot.

Collection Protocol:

Preputial samples

Insert the tool into the prepuce and move back and forth to scape across preputial mucosa and the surface of the penis. Block end (e.g. with finger) to prevent loss of material then remove from prepuce. Holding just off horizontal, insert tip into saline tube and remove block from end. Rinse smegma using 5 ml saline from a syringe, or cut off the black head of tricamper into saline.

Vaginal mucus

  • Clean perineum.
  • Introduce tricamper in a dorsocranial direction to avoid urethra until anterior end reaches cervix, and move gently back and forth. Block end (e.g. with finger) to prevent loss of material then remove. Holding just off horizontal, insert tip into saline tube and remove block from end. Rinse material off.

Special handling/shipping requirements:

Ship chilled.