Mycoplasma bovis: Taxonomy, Characteristics, Pathogenesis and Antimicrobial Resistance

Abstract

Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) is one of the most significant bacteria, which leads to multiple bovine diseases such as keratoconjunctivitis, otitis media, arthritis, genital disorders, mastitis, and pneumonia in cattle. M. bovis is considered the second most pathogenic mycoplasmas infection after Mycoplasma mycoides sub sp. mycoides (Mmm) that causes contagious bovine pleuropneumonia. M. bovis is a wall-less host-specific bacterium.  Currently, it is responsible for important economic problems worldwide such as reducing production, premature culling, and increasing the mortality of the affected animals. The infection caused by M. bovis is hampered due to the lack of effective vaccines and treatment. Besides, antibiotic resistance to macrolides and fluoroquinolones, the drug of choice for M. bovis treatment, has formidable economic losses due to treatment limitations by these antimicrobials. Our review highlights and discusses the taxonomy, general characteristics, economic importance, isolation, identification, and pathogenesis of M. bovis. Finally, it focused on the antimicrobial resistance of this particular bacterium.