[Risk factors for Ureaplasma diversum infections in cattle of a tropical environment]

A case-control study, determined the influence of breed, age and number of deliveries as risk factors for Ureaplasma genital infections in Costa Rica dairy cattle. The animals with none or one delivery had a risk of infection 2.99 times higher than those with several parturition, regardless of breed. The risk was 1.95 times higher in Jersey than in Holstein, and decreased progressively until three deliveries. In cows with four deliveries there was a significant increase in the amount of animals infected and also a significant difference in the rate of infection between Holstein (27%) and Jersey (64%). Ureaplasma isolation was rare in cows with more than six deliveries.