Differentiation of Species of Mycoplasma spp. Isolated from Clinical Cases of Bovine Mastitis and Bulk Tank Milk: Preliminary Results

摘要

Mastitis is one of the main obstacles to dairy cattle due to economic losses, the decrease in milk production, its quality, treatment costs, and early cow disposal with chronic mastitis. Mycoplasma spp. are an important contagious microorganism related to mastitis, particularly M. bovis, M. califomicum and M bovigenitalium, which are all are considered important pathogens in other countries (Kobayashi, 1998). However, these are less studied in Brazil. Due to the high degree of contagiousness of the agent and economic aspects, it is important to monitor the occurrence of mastitis caused by Mycoplasma spp, as well as the differentiation of the species involved and adoption of disease prevention and control measures in the property (Philpot and Nickerson, 2002). The objective of the present study is to evaluate the presence of the Mollicutes class and perform the species differentiation in milk samples from cows with clinical mastitis and, as a screening, for milk samples from bulk milk tanks (subclinical mastitis) by molecular techniques, such as PCR, using species-specific primers for Mycoplasma alkalenses, M. bovigenitalium, M. bovirhinis, M. califomicum and M. bovis.