Tritrichomonas foetus is not located in the accessory glands, epididymis, or testicles of infected bulls, and post mortem changes influence recovery of organism.

Objective: To determine the presence of Tritrichomonas foetus in the accessory sex glands, epididymis, and testicular tissue of T foetus-positive bulls and to assess the impact of post mortem tissue acidity on quantitative reverse-transcription PCR results.

Methods: 8 bulls were euthanized from June 12 through June 15, 2023, and samples from their accessory sex glands, testicles, and epididymis were collected for T foetus testing. Preputial smegma was obtained before and after euthanasia and tested for T foetus by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR. The pH of the penile and preputial epithelial surfaces was measured.

Results: Tritrichomonas foetus was not detected in samples from the testicle, epididymis, or epididymal semen. A post mortem decrease in the pH of the penis and prepuce correlated with a rise in cycle threshold values.

Conclusions: Tritrichomonas foetus was not present in samples taken, suggesting its absence in these specific reproductive tissues. A decrease in the pH of the penis and prepuce over time post mortem correlated with an increase in cycle threshold values in the samples. This relationship indicates that changes in pH may impact the detectability or stability of genetic material in these tissues, possibly affecting diagnostic outcomes as time from death progresses.

Clinical relevance: This research enhances the understanding of T foetus pathology in bulls and suggests that epididymal semen recovery could be a viable method for preserving genetic material from valuable bulls that test positive for T foetus. It also emphasizes the need for timely post mortem sampling to ensure accurate detection and management of T foetus in the cattle industry.