Risk factors associated with intramammary colonization with Mollicutes in dairy cattle from Southeast Brazil

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Bacteria of Mollicutes Class are associated with intramammary infection and decrease in milk production. This study investigated the occurrence of Mollicutes and elucidated their risk factors in dairy herds from Southeast Brazil. For this, milk samples from 387 lactation cows from Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo States were subjected to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect Mollicutes. Species of Mycoplasma were investigated in Mollicutes positive samples by PCR, including Mycoplasma bovis, M. alkalescens, M. bovigenitalium, M. bovirhinis, M. arginini and A. laidlawii. An epidemiological questionnaire was applied to collect data on possible risk factors, which were assessed using Pearson’s Chi-square test followed by odds ratio (P≤0.05). Mollicutes were reported in 21% (4/19) of the herds and 4% (16/387) of the animals, while 1% (5/387) were positive for M. bovis and 3% (11/387) for M. arginini. All samples were negative to the other agents. Herds with more than 150 animals [OR=3.51 (95% CI 1.11-11.08)], manual milking [OR=9.97 (95% CI 2.80-35.49)] and not-milking animals with mastitis last [OR=6.54 (95% CI 1.92-22.29)] were risk factors. The presence of these conditions may favor intramammary infection by Mollicutes in dairy herds from Southeast Brazil. This is the first report of M. bovis in Rio de Janeiro and M. arginini in the studied states.