title: Virulence, persistence and dissemination of Mycoplasma bovis.
abstract: Bovine mycoplasmosis due to Mycoplasma bovis causes several important bovine diseases such as pneumonia, mastitis, arthritis, otitis, genital disorders or keratoconjunctivitis. Variable surface lipoproteins, adhesion, invasion of host cells, modulation of the host immune system, biofilm formation and the release of secondary metabolites like hydrogen peroxide, as well as synergistic infections with other bacterial or viral pathogens are among the more significantly studied characteristics of the bacterium. The aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge regarding the virulence of M. bovis and additionally, factors contributing to the dissemination and persistence of this pathogen in the bovine host will be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sibylle
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bürki
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: paola.pilo@vetsuisse.unibe.ch.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pilo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D045682:Mycoplasma bovis / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014774:Virulence
keywords: Dissemination; Mycoplasma bovis; Persistence; Virulence attributes