Mycoplasma Bovis

Mycoplasma bovis infection is now one of the most common causes of pneumonia in the UK. It is often a primary invader but can be frequently under diagnosed. M bovis can also cause arthritis/limb oedema and mastitis. Response to antibiotics can be inconsistent/poor. Control options are improving so it’s never been more important to identify if M bovis is causing a problem on your clients’ farms.

Surveillance support for vets – limited time

Please click on the links below for details of our sponsored testing programme to assist you test for M bovis and interpret the results. Please note a submission reference number is required for all testing requested, please contact Graeme directly.

Links for:

See the IAHJ to read a case control study

Submission form

Graeme Fowlie, Meadows Vets, has recently published a paper (link here) demonstrating positive results in an initial comparative case study using a Mycoplasma bovis 3-strain bacterin vaccine.

Background

Mycoplasma bovis is a common cause of bovine pneumonia in calves. Treatment and control of the disease is challenging. Treatment can be ineffective and control is hampered by a lack of a licensed vaccine in Europe.

Results

This retrospective observational case-control study looked at evaluating growth rates, mortality and antimicrobial usage for 932 calves born into 4 herds over 2 time periods – before and after using a 3-strain M. bovis vaccine programme in commercial herds in the UK which demonstrated previous prevalence of M. bovis.  The vaccinated groups demonstrated a significant reduction (P< 0.05) in post-weaning mortality in calves aged 70-200 days old. No significant changes in pre-weaning or total mortality were observed. A significant reduction in antimicrobial usage post-vaccination was observed when compared to 2 control farms with qualifying data.

Conclusions

Due to study design weakness and data gathering insufficiencies in a commercial setting, the significant reductions in post-weaning mortality and antimicrobial usage can only be broadly suggestive of an effect of the vaccine in this preliminary case study. The study does outline the proof of concept for the vaccine’s commercial use in the UK. Further work on assessing the effect of this vaccine in UK cattle herds infected with M. bovis respiratory disease is warranted.

Mycoplasma bovis Surveillance Support Scheme

Mycoplasma bovis infection is now one of the most common causes of pneumonia in the UK. It is often a primary invader but can be frequently under diagnosed. M bovis can also cause arthritis/limb oedema and mastitis. Response to antibiotics can be inconsistent/poor. Control options are improving so it’s never been more important to identify if M bovis is causing a problem on your clients’ farms.

Practices are invited to use this complimentary service from Kernfarm B.V. as an aid to the investigation of suspected Mycoplasma bovis cases on UK beef and dairy farms. 3 forms of testing are available: bulk milk PCR, serology testing of home bred calves over 5 months old and post-mortem lung tissue PCR. These samples will be processed at Biobest, Edinburgh.

1. Bulk Milk Testing – please submit a preserved bulk milk sample for M bovis PCR testing. Due to poor recovery sensitivity this test is being replaced with bulk milk serology testing at Axiom Labs, details available form Graeme.
2. 5 plain serum blood samples from home bred calves over 5 months of age for serology testing
3. 1 plain sample pot container of lung sections from affected lung lobes at Post-Mortem for 8-pathogen Respiratory PCR testing and similar sections added to a 10% formal saline pot for reference purposes if required.

A brief survey of the farm involved is included for completion with the submission form and we’d be grateful for as much information as possible.

Please contact Graeme Fowlie, Meadows Vets, Oldmeldrum Aberdeenshire AB51 0EZ for an authorisation number (required for all samples) and any advice on the most beneficial tests for each case. 07734428841 01651 872481 prairie_kid@hotmail.com

*Please note Kernfarm/Merlin Vet Export/Meadows Vets will retain the information provided for surveillance purposes in a confidential manner. Scotland only: please note Livestock Health Scotland will also use the data anonymously as part of their national Mycoplasma bovis surveillance project. We are grateful for support with the project from LHS for Scottish based practices/herds.

Tim van Rijn, Kernfarm

David Taylor, Merlin Vet Export

Graeme Fowlie, Meadows Vet Centre

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