Identification of Mycoplasma bovis in cows with clinical mastitis using culture and Polymerase Chain Reaction based on 16SrRNA and uvrC genes

Mycoplasma bovis is the major cause of mycoplasmosis in cattle and one of the main causes of pneumonia, mastitis and arthritis in cattle. The aim of this study was to identify the M.bovis in cows with clinical mastitis signs using culture and PCR based on 16SrRNA and uvrC gene. A total of 328 milk samples were obtained from cattle with clinical mastitis in industrial dairy herds. Samples were sent to the to the Mycoplasma reference laboratory, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute at 4°C in less than 24 hours and incubated for 18-24 hours at 37°C. This media after filtering, incubated at Co2 and were monitored for 3-7 days. The DNA of the samples was extracted and purified by Phenol-Chloroform method and PCR was used to detect mycoplasma genus based on 16SrRNA and detection of M.bovis species based on uvrC genes. Out of 328 samples, 58 samples were positive in PPLO agar media. Ninty-seven samples (29.57%) were positive for mycoplasma gene, of which 14 samples (4.26%) showed specific gene of M.bovis. The results of this study introduced the PCR method as a rapid and reliable test for the detection of M.bovis in milk specimens. The results also showed that the presence of M.bovis in dairy herds in Iran is high and it can be considered as one of the main causes of the clinical manifestation of cattle mastitis.