Persistence of Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis in the reproductive tract of vaccinated heifers after experimental infection: Insights into vaginal mucosal immunity in heifers

Autores
Scioli, Maria Valeria; Sosa, Emiliano; Barale, Joaquin; Azaldegui, Ignacio; Mendez, Maria Alejandra; Paolicchi, Fernando; Garcia, Juan Agustin
Año de publicación
2026
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión publicada
Descripción
Bovine genital campylobacteriosis (BGC) remains a major cause of reproductive failure in beef cattle systems. This study evaluated the persistence of Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis (Cfv) and associated lesions in the reproductive tract of heifers four months after experimental infection following prior immunization. Thirty-three heifers were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 11 each): two vaccinated groups receiving inactivated bacterin formulations and a non-vaccinated control group. All animals were experimentally challenged intravaginally with a regional Cfv strain. At four months post-infection, cervicovaginal mucus and reproductive tissues were collected for bacteriological culture, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry. Cfv was recovered in all experimental groups. Although non-vaccinated heifers showed a higher frequency of positive cultures and immunohistochemistry detection, vaccinated animals also remained culture-and IHC-positive at four months post‑infection, suggesting that vaccination did not induce sterilizing immunity and did not prevent persistence of Cfv within the reproductive tract Immunohistochemistry localized Cfv in the vaginal mucosa, supporting its role as primary site of long‑term colonization. Histopathological lesions were detected across all groups and were mainly characterized by mild to moderate lymphohistiocytic infiltrates affecting the vagina, cervix, and uterus. Immunophenotyping in vaginal fundus revealed a predominance of CD68⁺ macrophages, with scarce CD3⁺ T lymphocytes and minimal CD79a⁺ B-cell labeling, suggesting a limited and poorly organized mucosal immune response with minimal involvement of adaptive immune cell populations. Overall, these findings demonstrate that Cfv persists in the bovine reproductive tract for at least four months despite prior vaccination. The predominance of macrophage‑dominated inflammation and the absence of sterilizing immunity highlight limitations of current bacterin vaccines and underscore the need for improved vaccination strategies capable of more effectively targeting vaginal mucosal immunity to enhance control of BGC.
EEA Balcarce
Fil: Scioli, María Valeria. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina
Fil: Sosa, Emiliano. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina
Fil: Barale, Joaquin. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina
Fil: Azaldegui, Ignacio. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina
Fil: Méndez, Alejandra. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina
Fil: Paolicchi, Fernando. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina
Fil: García, Juan Agustín. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina
Fuente
Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 298 : 111131 (August 2026)
Materia
Rumiantes
Enfermedades de los Animales
Vacunas
Ruminants
Animal Diseases
Campylobacter fetus
Vaccines
Cattle
Heifers
Ganado Bovino
Novilla
Nivel de accesibilidad
acceso restringido
Condiciones de uso
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Repositorio
INTA Digital (INTA)
Institución
Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
OAI Identificador
oai:localhost:20.500.12123/27064
Acceder
id INTADig_a8a9396bac53dd467aac5054f4ab8dcb
oai_identifier_str oai:localhost:20.500.12123/27064
network_acronym_str INTADig
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network_name_str INTA Digital (INTA)
spelling Persistence of Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis in the reproductive tract of vaccinated heifers after experimental infection: Insights into vaginal mucosal immunity in heifersScioli, Maria ValeriaSosa, EmilianoBarale, JoaquinAzaldegui, IgnacioMendez, Maria AlejandraPaolicchi, FernandoGarcia, Juan AgustinRumiantesEnfermedades de los AnimalesVacunasRuminantsAnimal DiseasesCampylobacter fetusVaccinesCattleHeifersGanado BovinoNovillaBovine genital campylobacteriosis (BGC) remains a major cause of reproductive failure in beef cattle systems. This study evaluated the persistence of Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis (Cfv) and associated lesions in the reproductive tract of heifers four months after experimental infection following prior immunization. Thirty-three heifers were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 11 each): two vaccinated groups receiving inactivated bacterin formulations and a non-vaccinated control group. All animals were experimentally challenged intravaginally with a regional Cfv strain. At four months post-infection, cervicovaginal mucus and reproductive tissues were collected for bacteriological culture, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry. Cfv was recovered in all experimental groups. Although non-vaccinated heifers showed a higher frequency of positive cultures and immunohistochemistry detection, vaccinated animals also remained culture-and IHC-positive at four months post‑infection, suggesting that vaccination did not induce sterilizing immunity and did not prevent persistence of Cfv within the reproductive tract Immunohistochemistry localized Cfv in the vaginal mucosa, supporting its role as primary site of long‑term colonization. Histopathological lesions were detected across all groups and were mainly characterized by mild to moderate lymphohistiocytic infiltrates affecting the vagina, cervix, and uterus. Immunophenotyping in vaginal fundus revealed a predominance of CD68⁺ macrophages, with scarce CD3⁺ T lymphocytes and minimal CD79a⁺ B-cell labeling, suggesting a limited and poorly organized mucosal immune response with minimal involvement of adaptive immune cell populations. Overall, these findings demonstrate that Cfv persists in the bovine reproductive tract for at least four months despite prior vaccination. The predominance of macrophage‑dominated inflammation and the absence of sterilizing immunity highlight limitations of current bacterin vaccines and underscore the need for improved vaccination strategies capable of more effectively targeting vaginal mucosal immunity to enhance control of BGC.EEA BalcarceFil: Scioli, María Valeria. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; ArgentinaFil: Sosa, Emiliano. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; ArgentinaFil: Barale, Joaquin. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; ArgentinaFil: Azaldegui, Ignacio. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; ArgentinaFil: Méndez, Alejandra. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; ArgentinaFil: Paolicchi, Fernando. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; ArgentinaFil: García, Juan Agustín. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; ArgentinaElsevier2026-07-20T10:34:45Z2026-07-20T10:34:45Z2026-05info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/27064https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S01652427260007111873-2534 (online)0165-2427 (print)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2026.111131Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 298 : 111131 (August 2026)reponame:INTA Digital (INTA)instname:Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuariaenginfo:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccesshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)2026-09-24T11:43:29Zoai:localhost:20.500.12123/27064instacron:INTAInstitucionalhttp://repositorio.inta.gob.ar/Organismo científico-tecnológicoNo correspondehttp://repositorio.inta.gob.ar/oai/requesttripaldi.nicolas@inta.gob.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:l2026-09-24 11:43:30.262INTA Digital (INTA) - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuariafalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Persistence of Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis in the reproductive tract of vaccinated heifers after experimental infection: Insights into vaginal mucosal immunity in heifers
title Persistence of Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis in the reproductive tract of vaccinated heifers after experimental infection: Insights into vaginal mucosal immunity in heifers
spellingShingle Persistence of Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis in the reproductive tract of vaccinated heifers after experimental infection: Insights into vaginal mucosal immunity in heifers
Scioli, Maria Valeria
Rumiantes
Enfermedades de los Animales
Vacunas
Ruminants
Animal Diseases
Campylobacter fetus
Vaccines
Cattle
Heifers
Ganado Bovino
Novilla
title_short Persistence of Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis in the reproductive tract of vaccinated heifers after experimental infection: Insights into vaginal mucosal immunity in heifers
title_full Persistence of Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis in the reproductive tract of vaccinated heifers after experimental infection: Insights into vaginal mucosal immunity in heifers
title_fullStr Persistence of Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis in the reproductive tract of vaccinated heifers after experimental infection: Insights into vaginal mucosal immunity in heifers
title_full_unstemmed Persistence of Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis in the reproductive tract of vaccinated heifers after experimental infection: Insights into vaginal mucosal immunity in heifers
title_sort Persistence of Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis in the reproductive tract of vaccinated heifers after experimental infection: Insights into vaginal mucosal immunity in heifers
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Scioli, Maria Valeria
Sosa, Emiliano
Barale, Joaquin
Azaldegui, Ignacio
Mendez, Maria Alejandra
Paolicchi, Fernando
Garcia, Juan Agustin
author Scioli, Maria Valeria
author_facet Scioli, Maria Valeria
Sosa, Emiliano
Barale, Joaquin
Azaldegui, Ignacio
Mendez, Maria Alejandra
Paolicchi, Fernando
Garcia, Juan Agustin
author_role author
author2 Sosa, Emiliano
Barale, Joaquin
Azaldegui, Ignacio
Mendez, Maria Alejandra
Paolicchi, Fernando
Garcia, Juan Agustin
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Rumiantes
Enfermedades de los Animales
Vacunas
Ruminants
Animal Diseases
Campylobacter fetus
Vaccines
Cattle
Heifers
Ganado Bovino
Novilla
topic Rumiantes
Enfermedades de los Animales
Vacunas
Ruminants
Animal Diseases
Campylobacter fetus
Vaccines
Cattle
Heifers
Ganado Bovino
Novilla
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv Bovine genital campylobacteriosis (BGC) remains a major cause of reproductive failure in beef cattle systems. This study evaluated the persistence of Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis (Cfv) and associated lesions in the reproductive tract of heifers four months after experimental infection following prior immunization. Thirty-three heifers were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 11 each): two vaccinated groups receiving inactivated bacterin formulations and a non-vaccinated control group. All animals were experimentally challenged intravaginally with a regional Cfv strain. At four months post-infection, cervicovaginal mucus and reproductive tissues were collected for bacteriological culture, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry. Cfv was recovered in all experimental groups. Although non-vaccinated heifers showed a higher frequency of positive cultures and immunohistochemistry detection, vaccinated animals also remained culture-and IHC-positive at four months post‑infection, suggesting that vaccination did not induce sterilizing immunity and did not prevent persistence of Cfv within the reproductive tract Immunohistochemistry localized Cfv in the vaginal mucosa, supporting its role as primary site of long‑term colonization. Histopathological lesions were detected across all groups and were mainly characterized by mild to moderate lymphohistiocytic infiltrates affecting the vagina, cervix, and uterus. Immunophenotyping in vaginal fundus revealed a predominance of CD68⁺ macrophages, with scarce CD3⁺ T lymphocytes and minimal CD79a⁺ B-cell labeling, suggesting a limited and poorly organized mucosal immune response with minimal involvement of adaptive immune cell populations. Overall, these findings demonstrate that Cfv persists in the bovine reproductive tract for at least four months despite prior vaccination. The predominance of macrophage‑dominated inflammation and the absence of sterilizing immunity highlight limitations of current bacterin vaccines and underscore the need for improved vaccination strategies capable of more effectively targeting vaginal mucosal immunity to enhance control of BGC.
EEA Balcarce
Fil: Scioli, María Valeria. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina
Fil: Sosa, Emiliano. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina
Fil: Barale, Joaquin. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina
Fil: Azaldegui, Ignacio. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina
Fil: Méndez, Alejandra. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina
Fil: Paolicchi, Fernando. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina
Fil: García, Juan Agustín. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Innovación para la Producción Agropecuaria y el Desarrollo Sostenible; Argentina
description Bovine genital campylobacteriosis (BGC) remains a major cause of reproductive failure in beef cattle systems. This study evaluated the persistence of Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis (Cfv) and associated lesions in the reproductive tract of heifers four months after experimental infection following prior immunization. Thirty-three heifers were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 11 each): two vaccinated groups receiving inactivated bacterin formulations and a non-vaccinated control group. All animals were experimentally challenged intravaginally with a regional Cfv strain. At four months post-infection, cervicovaginal mucus and reproductive tissues were collected for bacteriological culture, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry. Cfv was recovered in all experimental groups. Although non-vaccinated heifers showed a higher frequency of positive cultures and immunohistochemistry detection, vaccinated animals also remained culture-and IHC-positive at four months post‑infection, suggesting that vaccination did not induce sterilizing immunity and did not prevent persistence of Cfv within the reproductive tract Immunohistochemistry localized Cfv in the vaginal mucosa, supporting its role as primary site of long‑term colonization. Histopathological lesions were detected across all groups and were mainly characterized by mild to moderate lymphohistiocytic infiltrates affecting the vagina, cervix, and uterus. Immunophenotyping in vaginal fundus revealed a predominance of CD68⁺ macrophages, with scarce CD3⁺ T lymphocytes and minimal CD79a⁺ B-cell labeling, suggesting a limited and poorly organized mucosal immune response with minimal involvement of adaptive immune cell populations. Overall, these findings demonstrate that Cfv persists in the bovine reproductive tract for at least four months despite prior vaccination. The predominance of macrophage‑dominated inflammation and the absence of sterilizing immunity highlight limitations of current bacterin vaccines and underscore the need for improved vaccination strategies capable of more effectively targeting vaginal mucosal immunity to enhance control of BGC.
publishDate 2026
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2026-07-20T10:34:45Z
2026-07-20T10:34:45Z
2026-05
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
info:ar-repo/semantics/articulo
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/27064
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165242726000711
1873-2534 (online)
0165-2427 (print)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2026.111131
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/27064
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165242726000711
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2026.111131
identifier_str_mv 1873-2534 (online)
0165-2427 (print)
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
eu_rights_str_mv restrictedAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 298 : 111131 (August 2026)
reponame:INTA Digital (INTA)
instname:Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
reponame_str INTA Digital (INTA)
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instname_str Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
repository.name.fl_str_mv INTA Digital (INTA) - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
repository.mail.fl_str_mv tripaldi.nicolas@inta.gob.ar
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