bovis - Articles

Mycoplasma bovis

ISSN 2398-2993

Introduction
Active Forms
Resting Forms
Clinical Effects
Diagnosis
Further Reading

Related Articles

Synonym(s): M. bovis

Introduction

Classification

Taxonomy

Phylum: Tenericutes.
Class: Mollicutes.
Order: Mycoplasmatales.
Family: Mycoplasmataceae.
Genus: Mycoplasma.

Etymology

From the Greek 'Myco', meaning 'fungus' and 'Plasma' meaning 'formed'.
'bovis' - of the ox.

Morphology

Atypical bacteria: mollicutes do not have a rigid cell wall but a three-layered flexible cell membrane.
Mycoplasma are characterized by their small cell size (typically 0.3-0.8 µm).
Under microscopy, Mycoplasma bovis forms fried-egg shaped colonies on mycoplasma culture agar.

Distribution

Endemic in many countries (UK, Europe and Northern America):
- UK: of the samples submitted to the Animal and Plant Health Agency in 2020 where a diagnosis was reached, Mycoplasma bovis was diagnosed in 15.8% of cases of calf pneumonia and 0.5% of clinical mastitis samples.
- At the time of publication there is little UK data to report herd-level prevalence. However, a study by SRUC and University of Glasgow investigated the prevalence of M. bovis in bulk milk samples from 181 Scottish dairy herds and found that 77% of samples tested positive for the presence of M bovis antibodies.
- New Zealand is working towards eradicating M bovis.

Significance

M. bovis infection may present as respiratory disease, but likewise, the pneumonia can be "silent". Other presentations include ear infections (otitis media), mastitis and arthritis in cattle.
M. bovis may cause significant economic losses in both beef and dairy cattle industries.

Active Forms

Subscribe To View

This article is available to subscribers.
Try a free trial today or contact us for more information.

Sign Up Log In

Resting Forms

Subscribe To View

This article is available to subscribers.
Try a free trial today or contact us for more information.

Sign Up Log In

Clinical Effects

Subscribe To View

This article is available to subscribers.
Try a free trial today or contact us for more information.

Sign Up Log In

Diagnosis

Subscribe To View

This article is available to subscribers.
Try a free trial today or contact us for more information.

Sign Up Log In

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
Blesheuvel et al (2023) Within-herd transmission od Mycoplasma bovis infection after initial detection in dairy cows. JDairySci
Manning A (2020) Mycoplasma spp. mastitis - approach to diagnosis. Livestock 25 (4), 170-172 MAGOnline.
Haapala V, Pohjanvirta T, Vähänikkilä N et al (2018) Semen as a source of Mycoplasma bovis mastitis in dairy herds. Vet Microbiol 216, 60–66 PubMed.
Gille L, Boyen F, Van Driessche L, Valgaeren B et al (2018) Short communication: Effect of freezer storage time and thawing method on the recovery of Mycoplasma bovis from bovine colostrum. J Dairy Sci 101 (1), 609-613 JDairySci.
Parker A M, Sheehy P A, Hazelton M S, Bosward K L & House J K (2018) A review of mycoplasma diagnostics in cattle. J Vet Int Med 32 (3), 1241-1252 WileyOnline.
Timonen A A E, Katholm J, Petersen A, Orro T et al (2018) Elimination of selected mastitis pathogens during the dry period. J Dairy Sci 101 (10), 9332-9338 JDairySci.
Parker A M, House J K, Hazelton M S, Bosward K L et al (2017) Bulk tank milk antibody ELISA as a biosecurity tool for detecting dairy herds with past exposure to Mycoplasma bovis. J Dairy Sci 100 (10), 8296-8309 JDairySci.
Lysnyansky I & Ayling R D (2016) Mycoplasma bovis: mechanisms of resistance and trends in antimicrobial susceptibility. Front Microbiol 27 (7), 595 PubMed.
Barberio A, Flaminio B, De Vliegher S, Supré K et al (2016) Short communication: In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of Mycoplasma bovis isolates identified in milk from dairy cattle in Belgium, Germany, and Italy. J Dairy Sci 99 (8), 6578-6584 JDairySci.
Nicholas R A J, Fox L K & Lysnyansky I (2016) Mycoplasma mastitis in cattle: To cull or not to cull. Vet J 216, 142-147 SciDirect.
Parker A M, House J K, Hazelton M S, Bosward K L et al (2016) Milk acidification to control the growth of Mycoplasma bovis and Salmonella dublin in contaminated milk. J Dairy Sci 99 (12), 9875-9884 JDairySci.
Nielsen P K, Petersen M B, Nielsen L R, Halasa T & Toft N (2015) Latent class analysis of bulk tank milk PCR and ELISA testing for herd level diagnosis of Mycoplasma bovis. Prevent Vet Med 121 (3-4), 338-342 SciDirect.
Piccinini R, Gosney F, Snel G G M, Luini M V & Nicholas R A J (2015) Environmental survival of Mycoplasma bovis on a white veal farm. Vet Rec Case Reports 3 (1), e000207 BMJ.
Britten A M (2012) The role of diagnostic microbiology in mastitis control programs. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract 28 (2), 187-202 SciDirect.
Justice-Allen A, Trujillo J, Corbett R, Harding R et al (2010) Survival and replication of Mycoplasma species in recycled bedding sand and association with mastitis on dairy farms in Utah. J Dairy Sci 93, 192-202 JDairySci.
Caswell J L & Archambault M (2007) Mycoplasma bovis pneumonia in cattle. Anim Health Res Rev 8 (2), 161-186 PubMed.
Godden S, Mcmartin S, Feirtag J, Stabel J et al (2006) Heat-Treatment of bovine colostrum. II: Effects of heating duration on pathogen viability and Immunoglobulin G. J Dairy Sci 89, 3476-3483 JDairySci.
Biddle M K, Fox L K & Hancock D D (2003) Patterns of mycoplasma shedding in the milk of dairy cows with intramammary mycoplasma infection. JAVMA 223 (8), 1163-1166 JAVMA.
McAuliffe L, Ellis R J, Ayling R D & Nicholas R A J (2003) Differentiation of Mycoplasma species by 16S ribosomal DNA PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis fingerprinting. J Clin Microbiol 41 (10), 4844-4847 PMC.

Other sources of information

Animal & Plant Health Agency (2020) GB Cattle Disease Surveillance Dashboard. Website: https://public.tableau.com
UK-Vet Livestock Healthy Herd digital conference (2020) Mason C. The Clinical Syndromes Associated with Mycoplasma Bovis Infection in Cattle.
Animal & Plant Health Agency (2020) GB Cattle Disease Surveillance Dashboard. Website: www.public.tableau.com.
Animal & Plant Health Agency (2018) Mycoplasma Bovis: Current Knowledge, Industry Challenges and Knowledge Gaps for other UK Cattle Industry. UK Cattle Expert Group 2018. Website: apha.defra.gov.uk (pdf download).
Ireland-Hughes et al (2022) Bulk milk prevalence of Mycoplasma bovis in Scottish dairy herds. Cattle Prac V30 P1 p36.
Smith B P (2009) Large Animal Internal Medicine. 4th edn Mosby Elsevier, USA.
Guard C (2007) Musculoskeletal Disorders. In: Rebhun’s Diseases of Dairy Cattle. 2nd edn. Eds: Divers T J & Peek S F. Saunders Elsevier, USA. pp 467-503.
Hillman R & Gilbert R O (2007) Reproductive Diseases. In: Rebhun’s Diseases of Dairy Cattle. 2nd edn. Eds: Divers T J & Peek S F. Saunders Elsevier, USA. pp 395-446.
AP news May 5th 2022 https://apnews.com/article/science-business-health-new-zealand-agriculture-1ca36d4d7d466ebbdc5eff4a544a4b5b