Response to letter of comments: Comments on a retrospective epidemiological analysis of shared risk factors for bovine trichomoniasis and bovine genital campylobacteriosis in La Pampa province (Argentina). Highlighting a neglected agent: Leptospira sp.

Abstract

Dear Editor-in-chief, We have read with deep interest the letter of comments presented by Bruno Cabral Pires, Anahi Souto Vieira and Walter Lilenbaum. On the field of bovine reproductive diseases, leptospirosis is considered as a cause of infertility, abortion and reproductive failure together with trichomoniasis and campylobacteriosis. However, these agents have scarcely been studied in order to analyse shared risk factors in endemic areas such as Argentina and Brazil. The main bovine reproductive diseases generally share common characteristics. Consequently, focusing on these features should improve effectiveness and efficiency of disease control programs. This was the approach on which it is based the joint Control and Eradication Program for trichomoniasis and campylobacteriosis described in Molina et al. (2018) . As mentioned above, we agree with the authors in the convenience of also considering leptospirosis under this scheme. In fact, we also have developed a small pilot study that suggests the need to further investigate the role that leptospirosis and neosporosis play on reproductive efficiency in bovine herds in La Pampa (Argentina). According to the authors, systems where natural reproduction is practiced are predominant in countries such as Argentina or Brazil and are subject to particular production conditions that can difficult the diagnosis of venereal diseases. We believe that in the future the importance of bovine reproductive diseases will increase, due to the current trend (especially in western countries) towards more extensive and traditional farming systems. Finally, we would like to show our appreciation to the authors for the comments and contributions reflected in their letter.