Mycoplasma bovis: disease,diagnosis, and control

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.     

Mycoplasma bovis pneumonia in cattle

Mycoplasma bovis is an important and emerging cause of respiratory disease and arthritis in feedlot cattle and young dairy and veal calves, and has a variety of other disease manifestations in cattle. M. bovis is certainly capable of causing acute respiratory disease in cattle, yet the attributable fraction has been difficult to estimate. In contrast, M. bovis is more accepted as a cause of chronic bronchopneumonia with caseous and perhaps coagulative necrosis, characterized by persistent infection that seems poorly responsive to many antibiotics. An understanding of the disease has been recently advanced by comparisons of natural and experimentally induced disease, development of molecular diagnostic tools, and understanding some aspects of virulence, yet uncertainties regarding protective immunity, the importance of genotypic diversity, mechanisms of virulence, and the role of co-pathogens have restricted our understanding of pathogenesis and our ability to effectively control the disease. This review critically considers the relationship between M. bovis infection and the various manifestations of the bovine respiratory disease complex, and addresses the pathogenesis, clinical and pathologic sequelae, laboratory diagnosis and control of disease resulting from M. bovis infection in the bovine respiratory tract.     

Isolation of Mycoplasma bovis from bovine clinical samples in the Republic of Ireland

Mycoplasma bovis was detected in 134 (18 per cent) of 736 samples of bovine lung tissue collected from fatal pneumonia cases in the Republic of Ireland between April 1995 and December 1998. The cases occurred in 95 herds and recurred in four of them. Other respiratory pathogens were identified in 66 per cent of the M bovis-positive cases, with Pasteurella species, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis and parainfluenza 3 virus being most frequently detected. Mastitis and arthritis were less common clinical signs associated with M bovis infection; 22 cases of M bovis mastitis and five cases of M bovis arthritis were diagnosed in five herds.     

牛支原体pdhc基因的克隆、表达及其亚细胞定位

试验旨在研究牛支原体（Mycoplasma bovis,M.bovis）武威株二氢硫辛酰胺转乙酰酶（PDHc-E2）基因序列特征及其在牛支原体细胞中的位置。参照GenBank中牛支原体HB0801株pdhc基因（登录号：CP002058.1）设计引物,应用PCR扩增获得牛支原体武威株pdhc基因,在测序及序列分析的基础上,应用Overlap PCR完成点突变后将其克隆至pET-28a（+）中,构建原核表达载体pET-pdhc。pET-pdhc转化大肠杆菌Rosetta（DE3）感受态细胞后经IPTG诱导获得融合蛋白,将纯化蛋白免疫新西兰兔制备多抗血清,应用iELISA和Western blotting对牛支原体武威株PDHc-E2在细胞内的分布进行初步研究。结果显示,牛支原体武威株pdhc基因CDS全长735 bp,编码244个氨基酸,与国内牛支原体分离株HB0801、Hubei-1、CQ-W70、NM2012等基因序列完全一致,与国际标准株PG45同源性为99.2%,与无乳支原体（M.agalactiae）同源性为90.9%~91.2%,与加利福尼亚支原体（M.californicum）ST6株的同源性仅为78.4%,基因序列非常保守;通过Overlap PCR将该基因中4个编码色氨酸的TGA密码子突变为TGG,且完成点突变后的基因在大肠杆菌中成功表达,重组蛋白大小约为29 ku,主要以可溶性形式存在,iELISA结果显示,重组蛋白PDHc-E2具有较高的免疫原性,可刺激新西兰兔产生高水平的抗体,血清效价高达1：100 000;亚细胞定位结果表明,制备的多抗血清与重组蛋白PDHc-E2、牛支原体全菌蛋白、牛支原体膜蛋白、牛支原体胞浆蛋白均能发生特异性结合,说明该蛋白在牛支原体细胞膜和细胞质中均有分布,为膜相关蛋白,但在细胞质中的分布多于细胞膜。本研究结果为进一步研究牛支原体的生物学功能提供了理论依据。     

Mycoplasma bovis infection in gnotobiotic calves and combined infection with respiratory syncytial virus

Mycoplasma bovis was inoculated alone or in combination with respiratory syncytial virus into the respiratory tracts of 12 gnotobiotic calves. Clinical signs ranged from transient pyrexia to protracted fever accompanied by severe lower respiratory signs and in one case, arthritis. Pulmonary lesions included foci of coagulative necrosis surrounded by mononuclear cells and suppurative bronchiolitis with varying degrees of lympho-reticular hyperplasia. No enhancement of lesions occurred in the combined infections of M. bovis and respiratory syncytial virus. M. bovis was identified by immunoperoxidase labelling in lesions of necrosis, especially at interfaces between the lesion and mononuclear cells and in bronchiolar exudates. Organisms were also located in necrotic lesions of joint capsules, in tonsillar crypts, and in liver.     

Mycoplasma bovis infections in cattle

Mycoplasma bovis is a pathogen causing respiratory disease, otitis media, arthritis, mastitis, and a variety of other diseases in cattle worldwide. It is increasingly recognized by the veterinary and livestock communities as having an important impact on the health, welfare, and productivity of dairy and beef cattle. M. bovis diseases can be difficult to diagnose and control because of inconsistent disease expression and response to treatments and vaccines, and large gaps in our understanding of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of these diseases. There are limited data on which to base evidence-based decisions for treatment and control, and the literature contains differing clinical biases and opinions. This document is intended for veterinarians dealing with cattle and is focused on the cattle production systems of North America. The goal of the consensus statement panel was to encourage an evidence-based approach to M. bovis problems. The scientific literature was critically reviewed, including peer-reviewed journal articles and reviews obtained by database searches using the terms "Mycoplasma bovis" or "mycoplasma + cattle." Where other data were lacking, conference proceedings were reviewed as a source of expert opinion.     

The role of Mycoplasma bovis in bovine respiratory disease outbreaks in veal calf feedlots

To assess the prevalence and relative importance of Mycoplasma bovis among the pathological agents implicated in bovine respiratory disease (BRD), we surveyed 135 veal calves from nine feedlots in eastern France during naturally occurring outbreaks of respiratory disease. Occurrence of respiratory pathogens, M. bovis, bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) virus, bovine respiratory syncytial (BRS) virus and parainfluenza-3 (PI3) virus was investigated by seroconversion and isolation of bacteria and viruses from broncho-alveolar fluids. M. bovis and pathogenic respiratory bacteria were isolated in eight of the nine feedlots, and from 106 and 32, respectively, of the 135 tested animals. Seroconversion to PI3 virus occurred in four lots. BVD and BRS viruses were detected in eight and one lot, respectively. M. bovis was the most frequently isolated aetiologic agent in these BRD outbreaks, spreading early and widely throughout the affected units (60-100% rate of isolation and seroconversion). These results stress the importance of M. bovis in the BRD complex.     

Incidence and transmission of Mycoplasma bovis mastitis in Holstein dairy cows in a hospital pen: A case study

The objective was to determine the incidence and transmission of mycoplasma mastitis in the hospital pen in a dairy herd of 650 lactating cows after a hospital pen was established following an outbreak of this disease. Mycoplasma mastitis status was monitored for 3 months through repeated collection of milk samples from cows with clinical mastitis (CM) and from bulk tank milk. During the outbreak 13 cows were diagnosed with Mycoplasma bovis CM, 1 cow with Mycoplasma sp. mastitis and 8 cows showed signs of arthritis, 3 of which were confirmed as having M. bovis arthritis. M. bovis isolates from cows with CM, arthritis and bulk tank milk had indistinguishable chromosomal digest pattern fingerprints. Incidence rates of M. bovis CM cases in the milking and hospital pens were 0.01 and 1.7 cases per 100 cow-days at risk. Approximately 70% of cows with M. bovis CM became infected within 12 days of entering the hospital pen. Transmission of M. bovis in the hospital pen occurred as 3 episodes. Each episode corresponded to the introduction of a cow with M. bovis CM from a milking pen. Evidence indicates that cows with M. bovis CM from milking pens were the source of transmission of the disease in the hospital pen and thus their presence in the hospital pen appeared to be a risk factor for transmission of M. bovis mastitis in this single case study herd.     

Mycoplasma species and related organisms isolated from ruminants in Britain between 1990 and 2000

Between 1990 and 2000, more than 1600 mycoplasmas and the related acholeplasmas were identified from ruminant animals by the Mycoplasma Group at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency--Weybridge. Mycoplasma bovis was the most commonly identified pathogen, mostly from pneumonic calves but occasionally from cattle with mastitis and arthritis. Mycoplasma canis was first isolated in Britain in 1995 from pneumonic calves and the number of isolates increased to 18 per cent of the total mycoplasmas isolated from cattle in 1999. The ELISA for antibodies to M. bovis detected 1971 positive samples (22 per cent) among 8959 serum samples, mainly from pneumonic cattle. Other mycoplasmas identified included Mycoplasma dispar from the lungs of cattle with respiratory disease, and Mycoplasma bovigenitalium from the reproductive tract of cows with vulvovaginitis and infertility. Mycoplasma bovirhinis and Acholeplasma species were found commonly but are thought to be more opportunistic than pathogenic. In sheep and goats, the majority of Mycoplasma species isolated were identified as Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae from pneumonic sheep, Mycoplasma conjunctivae from sheep with keratoconjunctivitis, and the ubiquitous Mycoplasma arginini.     

Morphologic changes following intraarticular inoculation of Mycoplasma bovis in calves

Intraarticular inoculation of Mycoplasma bovis into the joints of six-week-old calves caused severe arthritis in five inoculates and mild arthritis in a sixth. Intraarticular inoculation of killed M. bovis did not cause arthritis. Arthritic calves had fever, joint swelling, lameness, neutrophilia, and intercurrent pneumonia from which M. bovis could not be recovered. Gross lesions were massive fibrinosuppurative synovitis and tenosynovitis, erosion of cartilage, and its replacement by polypoid granulation tissue. Histologic lesions were extensive ulceration of synovial membranes, leukocytic infiltration of the subsynovium, congestion, hyperemia, and thrombosis of the subsynovial vessels. Cartilage erosion was accompanied by chronic osteomyelitis and formation of pannus tissue. The presence of thrombi and platelet aggregates suggests that the inflammatory process in the synovium may arise from the interaction of M. bovis with the vasculature and the coagulation process of the host.     

Detection of mycoplasmas in experimentally-infected bull sperm

Bull sperm pellets experimentally infected with various concentrations of Mycoplasma (M.) bovis, M. bovigenitalium, and M. californicum were stored several months at -196 degrees C and were subsequently tested for mycoplasmas, using different methods and culturing media. M. bovis was reliably identified by laboratory diagnosis up to a concentration of 10(2) cfu/pellet. M. bovigenitalium and M. californicum were found to make higher demands on the quality of culturing substrates. Recommended are 1-h broth incubation and 5-d broth breeding.     

On the aetiopathogenesis of Mycoplasma pneumonia in calf

A pure culture of Mycoplasma (M.) bovis was isolated from calves with respiratory disease, exhibiting the picture of lymphohistiocytic proliferative pneumonia with presence of eosinophil plasmatic cells. A mixed infection of M. bovis and Pasteurella (P.) multocida was demonstrated in calves with exudative pneumonia. Both M. bovis and Haemophilus (H.) somnus were recovered from calves with necrotic pneumonia. All 3 organisms--M. bovis, P. multocida, and H. somnus--were present in cases of exudative-necrotic pneumonia. It was also shown that M. bovis played a primary role in the aetiopathogenesis of respiratory diseases caused by mixed infections.     

Naturally occurring Mycoplasma bovis-associated pneumonia and polyarthritis in feedlot beef calves.

Mycoplasma bovis is perceived as an emerging cause of mortality in feedlot beef cattle. This study examined the lesions and infectious agents in naturally occurring M. bovis-associated bronchopneumonia and arthritis and the relationship of this condition with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection. Standardized pathologic, immunohistochemical, and microbiologic investigations were conducted on 99 calves that died or were euthanized within 60 days after arrival in 72 feedlots. Cranioventral bronchopneumonia with multiple foci of caseous necrosis was identified in 54 of 99 calves, including 30 with concurrent fibrinosuppurative bronchopneumonia typical of pneumonic pasteurellosis. Mycoplasma bovis was consistently identified in these lesions by culture and immunohistochemistry, but also commonly in healthy lungs and those with pneumonia of other causes. Focal lesions of coagulation necrosis, typical of pneumonic pasteurellosis, were often infected with both Mannheimia haemolytica and M. bovis. Arthritis was present in 25 of 54 (46%) calves with M. bovis pneumonia, and all calves with arthritis had pneumonia. BVDV infection was more common in calves with lesions of bacterial pneumonia than in those dying of other causes, but BVDV infection was not more common in calves with caseonecrotic bronchopneumonia than those with fibrinosuppurative bronchopneumonia. Retrospective analysis identified cases of M. bovis pneumonia in the early 1980s that had milder lesions than the current cases. The findings suggest that, in at least some calves, M. bovis induces caseonecrotic bronchopneumonia within the lesions of pneumonic pasteurellosis.     

Isolation of mycoplasma species from the lower respiratory tract of healthy cattle and cattle with respiratory disease in Belgium

Between 1997 and 2000, a total of 150 healthy cattle and 238 animals with respiratory disease were examined for six Mycoplasma species. Attempts were made to detect Mycoplasma canis, Mycoplasma dispar and Ureaplasma diversum in calves with recurrent disease, and all three of these species were identified in calves with recurrent disease and in healthy lungs. In healthy calves, 84 per cent of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids were mycoplasma free; when cultures were positive, Mycoplasma bovirhinis was the only species isolated. Mycoplasmas were isolated from 78 per cent of animals suffering recurrent respiratory disease and from 65 per cent of acute respiratory cases. Mycoplasma bovis was isolated from bronchoalveolar lavages from 35 per cent of calves suffering recurrent respiratory disease, and from 50 per cent of acute cases, and from 20 per cent of pneumonic cases examined postmortem. M bovis was associated with other Mycoplasma species in 44 per cent of cases. M dispar was also isolated from 45.5 per cent of calves suffering recurrent respiratory disease, often in association with M bovis. M canis was identified for the first time in diseased Belgian cattle. Other mycoplasmas, including Mycoplasma arginini, Mycoplasma alkalescens and U diversum, were isolated less frequently. Associations between mycoplasmas and other pathogens were often observed. Among lungs infected with Pasteurella and/or Mannheimia species, more than 50 per cent were mixed infections with M bovis.     

Laboratory diagnosis of Mycoplasma infection in young cattle

The aim of this study was to detect Mycoplasma species in the respiratory tract of 110, 310 and 510 day-old groups of cattle by serological, bacteriological and histopathological investigations. Antibodies against M. bovis were found in 75% of the 110 day-old, in 50%--of the 310 day-old and in 55%--of the 510 day-old groups of cattle. Bacteriological examination of the samples from nasal cavities revealed that Mycoplasma carriers were found in 60% of the 110 day-old group of cattle, 40% of the 310 day-old and 40% of the 510 day-old group of cattle. Using the PCR method Mycoplasma was isolated from 25% of lung samples of the 510 day-old group of cattle. Mycoplasma bovis and Mycoplasma dispar were confirmed by serological investigations. Foci of bronchointerstitial pneumonia were determined by histopathological examination in 27.5% of lung samples. Mycoplasma bovis was isolated in 72.7% of bronchointerstitial pneumonia cases. Data processing with an SPSS 13.0 statistical package led to the conclusion that Mycoplasma bovis was found more frequently in the 110 day-old group of cattle (the youngest age group in this study) rather than in the 310 and 510 day-old groups of cattle (chi2 = 6.531; p = 0.038). The results obtained led to the conclusion that serological, bacteriological and histopathological examinations are important in detecting particular animal--carriers of Mycoplasma.     

Increased prevalence of Mycoplasma bovis in the Netherlands.

The epidemiology, therapy, and prevention of M. bovis infections are briefly reviewed. In a survey begun in 1982, M. bovis was found frequently in the respiratory tract [corrected] of veal calves and beef cattle with respiratory problems. In replacement calves infected with respiratory disease in dairy herds, however, the organism has only been detected since 1986. Respiratory tract specimens collected from calves with respiratory disease were submitted for examination for M. bovis from 1986 to 1991 and originated from 83 herds. Mycoplasma bovis was detected in specimens from 59 of the herds, 20% of which were dairy herds and 80% fattening herds. Arthritis caused by M. bovis was observed in 12 herds until July 1991. Since 1976 when the first mastitis outbreak caused by M. bovis was diagnosed, M. bovis has caused 14 more outbreaks. The number of diseased cattle varied from 1 tot 16 per farm, and clinical signs of mastitis varied from mild to severe. In all instances the infection has been eradicated from the herds. Because M. bovis can cause great losses in intensively reared cattle herds, it is advisable to separate purchased veal calves and beef cattle from dairy cattle to prevent further spread of M. bovis.     

牛支原体疫苗的研究进展

牛支原体（Mycoplasma bovis,M.bovis）是一种造成全世界范围内育肥牛和奶牛多种疾病综合征的重要病原体。临床症状主要包括长期性肺炎及多发性关节炎（CPPS）、呼吸道疾病综合征（BRD）、乳腺炎及生殖器官疾病。牛支原体能感染多种组织和器官,也能从健康的牛体内分离,是威胁畜牧业生产的主要病原体。由于临床上抗生素治疗效果不佳,预防或控制牛支原体感染最好的选择是研发有效的商业可用的疫苗。牛支原体疫苗的研究已历经多年,虽然存在很多问题,但也取得了一定进展。文章对牛支原体弱毒疫苗、灭活疫苗及亚单位疫苗的研究进展进行了总结,并讨论了疫苗设计的优化方案,为合理设计和研发有效的牛支原体防控技术提供参考。     

牛支原体NM2012株致病性研究

[背景]牛支原体是牛呼吸道疾病综合征的重要病因之一,可以引起牛的多种呼吸道疾病,给养殖业带来巨大的经济损失。接种疫苗是预防牛支原体感染的最有效的手段。[目的]通过人工感染牛体试验,了解牛支原体NM2012株的致病性,为后续疫苗研究提供生产用菌种。[方法]将牛支原体NM2012株第6代、第12代、第20代菌株分别经人工气管注射感染2周龄犊牛,攻毒后连续观察27 d,记录攻毒后犊牛的临床症状,在感染后第14天,从各攻毒组分别选取3头犊牛、空白对照组选取2头犊牛进行扑杀,第27天将剩余实验犊牛处死,观察肉眼病理变化和组织学病理变化。[结果]3个代次的NM2012菌株均对犊牛具有致病性,可引起比较典型的牛支原体肺炎症状和病理变化。[结论]NM2012株6-20代仍然具有对牛的致病性,可以作为今后疫苗研究的潜在菌种。     

The immunohistochemical detection of Mycoplasma bovis and bovine viral diarrhea virus in tissues of feedlot cattle with chronic, unresponsive respiratory disease and/or arthritis.

The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of selected pathogens in the tissues of a group of feedlot cattle with chronic disease (most often respiratory disease and/or arthritis). Samples of lung and joint tissues from 49 feedlot animals that had failed to respond to antibiotic therapy were tested by immunohistochemical staining for the antigens of Mycoplasma bovis, Haemophilus somnus, Pasteurella (Mannheimia) hemolytica, and bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). Mycoplasma bovis was demonstrated in over 80% of cases, including in 45% of joints and 71% of lungs tested. Mycoplasma bovis was the only bacterial pathogen identified in the joints. Haemophilus somnus and Pasteurella (Mannheimia) haemolytica were found in 14% and 23% of cases, respectively, and were confined to the lungs in all instances. Infection with BVDV was demonstrated in over 40% of cases. Mycoplasma bovis and BVDV were the most common pathogens persisting in the tissues of these animals that had failed to respond to antibiotic therapy.     

Increased severity of calf pneumonia associated with the appearance of Mycoplasma bovis in a rearing herd

An increase in deaths in calves from respiratory disease from an average of 9.7 per year to 36.5 per year corresponded with the isolation of Mycoplasma bovis from the lungs. It is suggested that this mycoplasma enhanced the severity of the disease which was normally present on the farm. The characteristic microscopic lesion and demonstration of M bovis by immunoperoxidase labelling could be useful aids to diagnosis.