Includes Commercial References
Newport Laboratories’ Jason Anderson, DVM, writes about Mycoplasma bovis, calling it problematic, insidious and hard to control. M. bovis is found in many different disease presentations. Affected cattle may display nasal discharge, cough, labored breathing, drooped ear, head tilt, head shaking, difficulty moving, swollen joints, inflamed quarters and abnormal milk.
Discussing Mycoplasma bovis control programs, Anderson says the absence of a true cell wall renders common anti-infectives ineffective. Vaccination may be another consideration with both commercial and autogenous options available. However, establishing good animal husbandry practices is critical, including cleanliness of housing and equipment along with adequate ventilation as well as maintaining cohorts of animals intact.
Source: Progressive Dairy, December 3, 2024. Link.
NOTE: M. bovis among major BRD pathogens PradalexTM (pradofloxacin injection) may kill, Drovers, February 1, 2025. Link.
Related: Mycoplasma bovis and Moraxella bovis are both abbreviated M. bovis which can cause confusion. Mycoplasma bovis is sometimes associated with pinkeye. Lab results* from 2023 sample submissions to Addison Laboratory were all Mycoplasma bovis negative, indicating Mycoplasma bovis does not appear to be an eye issue. Mycoplasma bovoculi is a predisposing factor to pinkeye and not a primary cause. It is locally immunosuppressive to the bovine eye making proper pinkeye vaccination less effective.
*Data on file at Addison Biological Laboratories, Inc. an AHD Sponsor
Image: M. bovis is a bacterium of the class Mollicutes, the smallest organisms that can self-replicate without hosts. <Link>
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