title: Laboratory diagnosis of Mycoplasma infection in young cattle.
abstract: The aim of this study was to detect Mycoplasma species in the respiratory tract of 110, 310 and 510 day-old groups of cattle by serological, bacteriological and histopathological investigations. Antibodies against M. bovis were found in 75% of the 110 day-old, in 50%--of the 310 day-old and in 55%--of the 510 day-old groups of cattle. Bacteriological examination of the samples from nasal cavities revealed that Mycoplasma carriers were found in 60% of the 110 day-old group of cattle, 40% of the 310 day-old and 40% of the 510 day-old group of cattle. Using the PCR method Mycoplasma was isolated from 25% of lung samples of the 510 day-old group of cattle. Mycoplasma bovis and Mycoplasma dispar were confirmed by serological investigations. Foci of bronchointerstitial pneumonia were determined by histopathological examination in 27.5% of lung samples. Mycoplasma bovis was isolated in 72.7% of bronchointerstitial pneumonia cases. Data processing with an SPSS 13.0 statistical package led to the conclusion that Mycoplasma bovis was found more frequently in the 110 day-old group of cattle (the youngest age group in this study) rather than in the 310 and 510 day-old groups of cattle (chi2 = 6.531; p = 0.038). The results obtained led to the conclusion that serological, bacteriological and histopathological examinations are important in detecting particular animal--carriers of Mycoplasma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Lithuanian Health Science University, Veterinary Academy, Tilzes str. 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania. gabinaitiene@lva.lt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gabinaitiene
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Siugzdaite
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zilinskas
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary