Nasal Carriage of Mycoplasma spp. and Mycoplasma bovis in Healthy Calves

Öz

Mycoplasma spp., particularly Mycoplasma bovis, are important pathogens of bovine respiratory disease and can colonize both clinically affected and healthy calves subclinically. This highlights the importance of detecting these agents in healthy herds to prevent silent transmission within the herd. This study aimed to investigate the presence of Mycoplasma spp. in the nasal flora of clinically healthy calves raised in Ereğli and Karapınar districts of Konya, Türkiye, using both cultural and molecular methods. Among 198 nasal swab samples, 28 (14.1%) were positive for Mycoplasma spp. by culture, and 20 of these isolates (71.4%) were confirmed by genus-specific PCR, resulting in a molecular prevalence of 10.1%. Species-specific PCR analysis identified 25% of the culture- and genus-specific PCR-positive isolates as Mycoplasma bovis, corresponding to an overall nasal swab prevalence of 2.53%. No statistically significant differences in culture or PCR positivity were observed among the different farms (P>0.05). The findings indicate that Mycoplasma spp. and M. bovis can be present in the nasal flora of clinically healthy calves, demonstrating subclinical carriage and the potential for silent herd transmission, providing valuable information for epidemiological monitoring and risk-based control strategies.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Calf
• Culture
• Mycoplasma bovis
• PCR
• Prevalence

Etik Beyan

Selçuk University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Ethics Committee, 03.08.2022, 2022/94 Number Ethics Committee Decision

Sağlıklı Buzağılarda Mycoplasma spp. ve Mycoplasma bovis'in Nazal Taşıyıcılığı

Öz

Mycoplasma türleri, özellikle Mycoplasma bovis, sığır solunum yolu hastalıklarının önemli patojenleridir ve hem klinik olarak etkilenmiş hem de sağlıklı buzağılarda subklinik olarak kolonize olabilirler. Bu durum, sürü içinde sessiz bulaşmayı önlemek için sağlıklı sürülerde bu etkenlerin tespit edilmesinin önemini vurgulamaktadır. Bu çalışma, Türkiye'nin Konya ilinin Ereğli ve Karapınar ilçelerinde yetiştirilen klinik olarak sağlıklı buzağıların burun florasında Mycoplasma türlerinin varlığını hem kültürel hem de moleküler yöntemlerle araştırmayı amaçlamıştır. 198 burun sürüntüsü örneğinden 28'i (%14,1) kültürle Mycoplasma türleri açısından pozitif bulunmuş ve bu izolatların 20'si (%71,4) cinse özgü PCR ile doğrulanarak %10,1'lik bir moleküler prevalans elde edilmiştir. Türe özgü PCR analizi, kültür ve cinse özgü PCR ile pozitif bulunan izolatların %25'ini Mycoplasma bovis olarak tanımlamış ve bu da genel burun sürüntüsü prevalansının %2,53 olduğunu göstermiştir. Farklı çiftlikler arasında kültür veya PCR pozitifliğinde istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark gözlenmedi (P>0,05). Bulgular, Mycoplasma spp. ve M. bovis'in klinik olarak sağlıklı buzağıların burun florasında bulunabileceğini, subklinik taşıyıcılığı ve sessiz sürü bulaşma potansiyelini gösterdiğini ve epidemiyolojik izleme ve risk temelli kontrol stratejileri için değerli bilgiler sağladığını göstermektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Buzağı
• Kültür
• Mycoplasma bovis
• PCR
• Prevalans

Etik Beyan

Selçuk Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Etik Kurulu’nun 03.08.2022 tarih ve 2022/94 sayılı etik kurul kararı

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