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Fatal Calf Pneumonia Outbreaks in Italian Dairy Herds Involving Mycoplasma bovis and Other Agents of BRD Complex

Authors :
Angela Fanelli
Margie Cirilli
Maria Stella Lucente
Aya Attia Koraney Zarea
Domenico Buonavoglia
Maria Tempesta
Grazia Greco
Source :
Frontiers in Veterinary Science, Vol 8 (2021)
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
Frontiers Media S.A., 2021.

Abstract

Mycoplasma bovis is increasingly recognized worldwide as an important cause of disease with major welfare and production impairments on cattle rearing. Although it was detected in veal calves and beef cattle, little is known on the infection impact and on its temporal morbidity pattern in Italian dairy herds. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the involvement of M. bovis on fatal calf pneumonia outbreaks that occurred during 2009–2019 in 64 Italian dairy farms. Furthermore, a deeper diagnostic workup of concurrent infection with other viral and bacterial respiratory pathogens was assessed. Out of the investigated fatal pneumonia cases, M. bovis was frequently detected (animal prevalence, 16.16%; 95%CI, 11.82–21.33; herd prevalence, 26.56; 95%CI, 16.29–39.08) either as the single agent of the disease in more than half of the positive samples (20/37) or in concurrent infections with Histophilus somni (9/37, 24.3%), Mannheimia haemolytica (6/37, 16.621%), Trueperella pyogenes (1/37, 2.70%), Pasteurella multocida (1/37, 2.70%), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (5/37, 13.51%), and bovine viral diarrhea virus (2/37, 5.55%). Based on time-series analysis, M. bovis was recorded in the area since 2009 with outbreaks displaying a clear morbidity seasonal pattern with peaks in April (43.21%) and in September (13.51%). This might be due to the stressing conditions during spring and late summer periods. Results of this study highlight that M. bovis infection warrants consideration, and control measures are needed given its involvement in lethal pneumonia outbreaks in dairy herds from an extended area.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
22971769
Volume :
8
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.39f7fcd45c474187786b0e2febb9f6
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.742785