SUMMARY Instillation of a strain of Vibrio fetus intestinalis (group A-2) of bovine origin into the reproductive tracts of virgin Holstein-Friesian heifers resulted in protracted infections in 2 of 3 heifers. Inoculums varied from 2.6 to 9.4 × 108 cells/ml. and were deposited in 1-ml. Quantities into each of 3 sites; uterine horn, cervix, and cranial portion of vagina. In 1 heifer, infection persisted for more than 7 weeks, and formation of low concentrations of mucous agglutinins was induced; mild inflammatory response was evident throughout the reproductive tract at postinoculation (pi) week 11½. The other heifer remained infected until it was killed at pi week 91/2, at which time V. fetus intestinalis was recovered from uterine ducts, uterus, and cervix, Mild salpingitis and moderate endometritis, cervicitis, and vaginitis were observed. Antibodies agglutinating whole, as well as heated, cells of the infecting strain were detectable in cervicovaginal mucus. Isolants derived from the cervicovaginal mucus of both heifers and from the uterus of the 2nd heifer when it was killed at pi week 1/2 were inagglutinable or agglutinated only by low dilutions of antiserums specific for the infecting strain or for individual heat-labile antigens of V. fetus.
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Schurig et al. (1973) studied this question.