Improvements in diagnosis of disease caused by Mycoplasma bovis in cattle

Abstract

The major disease problems associated with Mycoplasma bovis are contagious mastitis and respiratory disease in cattle. Its importance has increased worldwide due to its increasing resistance to antimicrobial agents and the lack of an effective vaccine. Chronically infected silent carriers introduce infection to naïve herds and M. bovis diseases can cause significant economic losses to the affected herds. Availability of a suitable diagnostic tool for extensive screening will improve the ability to determine the appropriate treatment and the full impact of M. bovis in both beef and dairy cattle industries. The present review focuses on the past and present improvements in the diagnosis of disease caused by M. bovis in cattle.