Mycoplasma bovis-associated pneumonia and arthritis complicated with pyogranulomatous tenosynovitis in calves

Abstract

• Infections with Mycoplasma bovis are refractory to treatment with antibiotics, and may cause pneumonia and arthritis in calves, polyarthritis in feedlot cattle, and polyarthritis with meningitis in suckling calves. • Using monoclonal antibodies, avidin-biotin enhanced immunoperoxidase staining can detect M bovis in tissue sections of tendon sheaths and joint capsules from affected cattle. • In calves with pneumonia and arthritis, tendon sheaths and synovial bursae should be examined, in addition to joint capsules, for possible lesions.