Mycoplasma bovis dans le complexe respiratoire bovin et propriétés de cyto-adhésion in vitro

in Annales de Médecine Vétérinaire (2003), 147(4, AUG-SEP), 267-272

Mycoplasmas frequently infect cattle, causing especially respiratory diseases. Mycoplasma bovis is the most important pathogenic species in countries free of bovine contagious pleuropneumonia. This ... [more ▼]

Mycoplasmas frequently infect cattle, causing especially respiratory diseases. Mycoplasma bovis is the most important pathogenic species in countries free of bovine contagious pleuropneumonia. This species was frequently isolated in Belgium from cattle with respiratory disease. Furthermore, associations were often observed with pasteurellas and bovine respiratory syncytial virus. Of these M. bovis isolates, many were resistant to several antimicrobial agents which are used in cattle practice, except to fluoroquinolones. Inasmuch the high frequency of M. bovis isolation and antibiotic resistances, it is very important to understand the pathogenicity of this bacteria in order to optimize prophylactic tools. Therefore, the study of the cytadherence of M. bovis is essential since it represents the first step of the bacterial infection. According to our experimental results, PG45 is not representative of field isolates because of its low adherence rates to various cell lines. This could be explained by the high number of subcultures of this pathogenic strain underwent since its first isolation, which sharply contrasts with other isolates. M. bovis adheres specifically to bovine bronchial epithelial cells in primary culture. Proteins such as variable surface proteins C and F are involved in this step as observed by decreased adherence rates after trypsinization of mycoplasma cells or addition of monoclonal antibodies. [less ▲]

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

in Veterinary Record (2002), 151(16), 472-476

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 ... [more ▼]

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. [less ▲]