title: Prevalence of Mycoplasma bovis in backgrounding and stocker cattle operations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the prevalence of Mycoplasma bovis infection in backgrounding and stocker cattle operations and compare bacteriologic culture with PCR assay for detection of M bovis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  432 calves, 3 to 9 months old, from 9 operations.
  
  
  METHODS
  2 nasal swab specimens were collected from each calf. Swab specimens were evaluated via bacteriologic culture and PCR assay for organisms of the class Mollicutes and M bovis. Culture results were considered negative if no growth occurred within 21 days. Positive results were indicated by characteristic colony formation with PCR assay confirmation. Deoxyribonucleic acid was extracted from 1 swab specimen for direct PCR assay for Mollicutes and M bovis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 432 calves, 374 (87%) had positive results for Mollicutes via PCR assay and 63 (15%) via culture. Seven (2%) calves had positive results for M bovis via PCR assay and 10 (2%) via culture. Prevalence of Mollicutes at the farm level ranged from 54% to 100% via PCR assay and from 0% to 59% via culture. Prevalence of M bovis at the farm level ranged from 0% to 4% via PCR assay and from 0% to 6% via culture. Calves that shed M bovis were significantly more likely to have a fever than were calves that did not shed M bovis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  M bovis was detected at a low level in recently purchased backgrounded and stocker calves in Georgia. Although slightly more infected calves were detected via culture and PCR assay together, PCR assay appeared to accurately identify M bovis at the farm level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
authors.forename: Monique C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Wiggins
authors.forename: Amelia R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Woolums
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hurley
authors.forename: Dana J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: Douglas T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Ensley
authors.forename: Mel E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Pence
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D005845:Georgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D045682:Mycoplasma bovis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial