Mycoplasma bovis infections and co-infections with other Mycoplasma spp. with different clinical manifestations in affected cattle herds in eastern region of Poland

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the presence of Mycoplasma bovis infection and co-infections with other Mycoplasma spp. infections in cattle. The tested population was one in the eastern region of Poland containing 66 dairy cows and 23 calves showing different clinical signs and suffering from pneumonia, mastitis, and arthritis. The incidence of M. bovis in co-infections with other Mycoplasma spp. was examined using serological traditional mycoplasma culture methods, and the molecular methods -PCR and polymerase chain reaction/denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR/DGGE). The PCR/DGGE method for detecting Mycoplasma spp. in cattle was used for the first time in Poland. The seroprevalence of M. bovis in the affected cattle herds in the eastern region of Poland was 47.8% in calves and 19.7% in dairy cows. The direct detection and identification of M. bovis from nasopharyngeal swabs by PCR revealed that 56.5% of calves were positive, but all of the dairy cows were negative. The PCR/DGGE identified eight (34.8%) instances of M. arginini and eight (26.1%) instances of M. bovirhinis co-infecting with M. bovis in ten calves. The seroprevalence of M. bovis in the tested population was 33.7%. Any future attempts to control mycoplasma infections require an insight into the current epidemiological situation of M. bovis infection and its relationship to other mycoplasmas in causing clinical disease in cattle. Using these diagnostic methods we have demonstrated that mycoplasmal infections are often caused by multiple species of Mycoplasma and not just the primary M. bovis pathogen.

Phylogenetic relationship among field isolates of mycoplasmas and acholeplasmas in two South Australian dairy herds based on sequencing of a short 16S rRNA gene fragment

“…Mycoplasma bovirhinis strain PG51 has been reported previously as a secondary invader in mastitic cows in more than 70% of Australian dairy herds, which can be explained by the ascending transmission from the nasal secretions of calves during suckling [28]. Mycoplasma bovirhinis sequences in this study clustered with the M. arginini group which may clinically explain the usual co-invasion of these genetically related mycoplasmas in bovine diseases [1,29].…”

Evaluation of effects of Mycoplasma mastitis on milk composition in dairy cattle from South Australia

“…Multiple Mycoplasma spp. infection tends to be more common in Mycoplasma -associated diseases [ 59 ]. Although, some studies indicate the possibility of A. laidlawii being involves in mastitis cases [ 8 , 31 , 63 ], our data showed no effect on milk composition as an individual pathogen, being similar to common veterinary literature that establishes these bacteria as a milk contaminant [ 4 , 27 , 40 ].…”

Discrimination between some Mycoplasma spp. and Acholeplasma laidlawii in bovine milk using high resolution melting curve analysis

“…M. bovis was widely reported as a main mastitis causing Mycoplasma [ 9 , 10 ]. Inconsistent results have been reported regarding involvement of M. arginini, M. bovirhinis and A. laidlawii in bovine mastitis, particularly with co-infection Mycoplasma mastitis [ 5 , 11 , 12 ]. However, several studies indicate these mollicutes are not significant pathogens [ 3 , 13 ].…”