Mycoplasma wenyonii: A causative agent of new mastitis in dairy cows

Abstract

This is the first reported molecular detection of hemoplasmas (Mycoplasma wenyonii) DNA in cow's milk samples. Mycoplasma wenyonii caused a recurrent and persistent udder infection which failed to respond to treatment as Escherichia coli or Streptococcus mastitis on many farms from different regions in Nineveh province of Iraq. The study recorded about 66% PCR confirmed cases over the last year that suggests it was undiagnosed earlier. M.wenyonii should be considered in a differential diagnosis in any cow presenting with mastitis, particularly if there has been a recent reduction in milk yield. All milk samples infected with M.wenyonii organisms identified on the basis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence (deposited in GenBank under accession number MK335902, MK335904). The DNA sequence had 100% identity to previously reported M. wenyonii16S rRNA gene in blood samples of the same dairy cows.