Survey of bulk tank milk in New Zealand for Mycoplasma bovis , using species - specific nested PCR and culture

Authors: Rawdon TG, Humphrey S, Fernando K, McDonald WL, Canagasebey Y, Fitzmaurice J, McIntyre L, Voges H, Bolotovski I, Norton RN
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 57, Issue 1, pp 44-49, Feb 2009
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Cattle, Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant
Subject Terms: Biosecurity, Diagnostic procedures, Disease control/eradication, Disease surveillance, Milk, Bacterial, Disease/defect, Infectious disease
Article class: Scientific Article

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Abstract: AIM: To survey the dairy cattle population in New Zealand for the presence or absence of Mycoplasma bovis.
METHODS: A random cross-sectional survey of bulk tank milk from dairy herds in New Zealand based on regionally proportioned sampling, weighted towards herds with a high bulk tank milk somatic cell count (SCC) was used to detect M. bovis at a between-herd prevalence of 2%, with 99% confidence. Bulk tank milk samples collected on-farm were tested using a nested M. bovis PCR, and bacteriological culture employing enrichment in mycoplasma broth and direct plating onto mycoplasma agar.
RESULTS: Mycoplasma bovis was not detected in any of the 244 bulk tank milk samples by either PCR or culture.
CONCLUSIONS: This survey provides further evidence that M. bovis is not present in the dairy cattle population in New Zealand.
KEY WORDS: Mycoplasma bovis, PCR, culture, bulk tank milk, survey

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