Researchers at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) and Prairie Diagnostic Services Inc. (PDS) have developed a genomic sequencing tool designed to detect multiple pathogens associated with bovine reproductive failure.

Bovine reproductive failure, which can reduce fertility and pregnancy rates, poses a significant concern for livestock producers in the beef and dairy industries. Identifying the specific pathogens responsible for reproductive issues is often challenging, making effective treatment difficult and leading to financial losses from decreased herd productivity.

Dr. Yanyun Huang, chief executive officer of PDS and an adjunct professor in the WCVM’s Department of Veterinary Pathology, the study’s principal investigator, initiated the project to improve diagnostic efficiency and reduce testing costs for livestock producers.

“Lab detection is a key part of diagnosis. For example, farmers notice a problem in their herd and call their vet, who decides to test for one or two pathogens. Then they submit samples to the lab, and if they come back negative, they tell the lab to test for two different pathogens,”  Huang says. “Through this process, producers can spend a lot of money and time in delaying real results and cannot actually test for all of the things that are worth testing.”

In 2022, Dr. Huang received funding from the Saskatchewan Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) to develop BovReproSeq, a next-generation sequencing tool that analyzes samples for 17 pathogens linked to infertility, abortions, and stillbirths in cattle. This technology offers faster and more comprehensive diagnostics compared to traditional tests, which often require multiple rounds of separate testing. Huang worked alongside Dr. Janet Hill, professor and head of the WCVM’s Department of Veterinary Microbiology, and Dhinesh Periyasamy, a MSc student and PDS technical specialist, to bring this tool to life.

Periyasamy analyzed clinical samples from bovine reproductive failure cases, showing that BovReproSeq achieved a 99 per cent accuracy rate compared to conventional diagnostic methods. Despite some limitations, like false negatives in cases with low pathogen loads, the tool has been well-received by veterinarians. The research, published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, is currently in its second phase, funded by the Beef Cattle Research Council, which includes real-time testing of additional diagnostic cases. The team is hopeful that by 2025, BovReproSeq will be available for veterinarians, potentially setting a new standard in the livestock industry.