Eliminating the organisms from the sheath of bulls is just as difficult and requires repeated local applications of antibiotics. Because most cows become fertile again within two or three cycles, aggressive treatment is not usually recommended. A vaccine is not yet available. This disease is caused by an organism named Tritrichomonas fetus . It is a true venereal disease because transmission occurs only through sexual contact.
Bovine trichomoniasis develops in the same way as bovine campylobacteriosis.
Organisms transferred to the cow's vagina from the bull during breeding migrate up to the uterus and cause infection. Recently infected cows develop a mild white sticky discharge from the vulva which can last for up to two months. Large number of cows will be affected in herds that have not encountered the disease before. Repeat breeding or infertility of individual cows can last up to five months. Again, the reason for repeat breeding appears to be death of the embryo.