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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Ruminant Diseases and Immunology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #289620
Title: Systemic mycoplasmosis with dystocia and abortion in North American bison (Bison bison) herd

Author
item Register, Karen
item WOODBURY, MURRAY - University Of Saskatchewan
item DAVIES, JENNIFER - University Of Calgary
item TRUJILLO, JESSIE - Iowa State University
item PEREZ-CASAL, JOSE - University Of Saskatchewan
item BURRAGE, PATRICK - Burrage Veterinary Services
item CLARK, EDWARD - University Of Calgary
item WINDEYER, CLAIRE - University Of Calgary

Submitted to: Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/3/2013
Publication Date: 7/1/2013
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/57505
Citation: Register, K.B., Woodbury, M.R., Davies, J.L., Trujillo, J.D., Perez-Casal, J., Burrage, P.H., Clark, E.G., Windeyer, C. 2013. Systemic mycoplasmosis with dystocia and abortion in North American bison (Bison bison) herd. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation. 25(4):541-545.

Interpretive Summary: Mycoplasma bovis has recently emerged as a significant health threat in bison and is an increasing concern and source of economic loss for producers. Clinical manifestations of infection documented in bison include pneumonia, respiratory distress and polyarthritis. The current study describes the isolation and identification of M. bovis from a bison cow with pneumonia and her aborted fetus. The data strongly implicate M. bovis as a potential primary cause of placentitis and abortion in pregnant bison, a previously unrecognized clinical manifestation of infection. The case reported here is likely to have developed as a result of spread of the bacterium from the lung via the bloodstream. Thus, control and management of M. bovis infection in bison may be particularly critical in breeding herds. Veterinarians and producers should consider M. bovis when investigating the cause of abortion in bison.

Technical Abstract: Mycoplasma bovis has recently emerged as a significant health threat in bison and is an increasing concern and source of economic loss for producers. Clinical manifestations of infection documented in bison include pneumonia, respiratory distress and polyarthritis. The current study describes the isolation and identification of M. bovis from a bison cow and her aborted fetus. Necropsy of the cow revealed severe, caseonecrotic bronchopneumonia with chronic, fibrinous pleuritis and pulmonary sequestra, the typical features of pneumonic mycoplasmosis, as well as severe endometritis and necrotizing vasculitis and thrombosis of the placentome. Mycoplasma-like colonies, confirmed as M. bovis by multiple PCR assays and partial sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, were cultured from maternal lung, uterus and kidney as well as fetal lung, kidney, abomasal fluid and placentome. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated M. bovis antigen in maternal lung and placentome. Additional analyses of tissues failed to implicate other bacterial or viral pathogens, including bovine herpesvirus 1, Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus, Ureaplasma species and Tritrichomonas fetus. These data suggest that M. bovis-associated pneumonia in pregnant bison may be accompanied by hematogenous dissemination to the placentome, resulting in necrotizing placentitis and abortion. Veterinarians and producers should consider M. bovis when investigating the etiology of abortion in bison.