Mycoplasma bovis: disease, diagnosis, and control

• Published in: Research in Veterinary Science Vol. 74; no. 2; pp. 105 - 112
• Main Authors: Nicholas, R.A.J., Ayling, R.D.
• Format: Book Review Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier India Pvt Ltd 01.04.2003; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - diagnosis; Cattle Diseases - drug therapy; Cattle Diseases - economics; Cattle Diseases - epidemiology; Disease transmission; Milk; Mortality; Mycoplasma - physiology; Mycoplasma Infections - diagnosis; Mycoplasma Infections - economics; Mycoplasma Infections - prevention & control; Mycoplasma Infections - veterinary; Occupational safety; Tuberculosis; Veterinary medicine; Israel; United Kingdom > UK; France; Europe; Ireland; Germany
• ISSN: 0034-5288; 1532-2661
• DOI: 10.1016/S0034-5288(02)00155-8

Mycoplasma bovis is a major, but often overlooked, pathogen causing respiratory disease, mastitis, and arthritis in cattle. It is found worldwide and has spread into new areas, including Ireland and parts of South America, in the last decade. In Europe, it is responsible for at least a quarter to a third of all calf pneumonia although this may be an underestimate as few laboratories regularly monitor for mycoplasmas. Like all mollicutes, M. bovis is inherently refractory to certain groups of antibiotics because it does not possess a cell wall; furthermore evidence is accumulating that strains of M. bovis are becoming resistant to antibiotics, including tetracycline, tilmicosin and spectinomycin, traditionally used for their control. No vaccines are presently available for the control of M. bovis infections.