Epi. 199 - Impacts of Hematogenous Mycoplasma Infections in Dairy Cattle

AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by AABP member Dr. Dave Krahn to discuss a disease that may be unfamiliar to many listeners – infection from hematogenous mycoplasma species. Krahn has been a practicing dairy veterinarian in central Wisconsin since graduating from veterinary school in 1989. 

This episode of Have You Herd? is sponsored by Addison Biological Laboratories, manufacturers of MAXI/GUARD Pinkeye Bacterin and Moraxella bovoculi bacterin to protect your herd before pinkeye season. For more information, visit https://addisonlabs.com/.  

We start our conversation by reviewing the characteristics of the hematogenous mycoplasmas and clinical signs that may be attributable to infection. Diagnosis of the disease is done via PCR and a presumptive diagnosis can be made via a blood smear to look for the organism on red blood cells. Krahn worked with university partners to do a study on his client’s herds as well as a prevalence study in Michigan and Wisconsin which found that 100% of farms were positive for one or both of the organisms. The within herd prevalence for hematogenous mycoplasmas was 75%. 

Krahn has implemented protocols for use of pasteurized colostrum for feeding calves and individual needle use for all injections to control the spread of the disease. He reports that herds show a resolution of clinical signs within 4-6 months after implementation of control measures. 

Schambow RA, Poulsen K, Bolin S, Krahn D, Norby B, Sockett D, Ruegg PL. Apparent prevalence of Mycoplasma wenyonii, Candidatus Mycoplasma haemobos, and bovine leukemia virus in Wisconsin and Michigan dairy cattle herds. JDS Commun. 2021 Jan 22;2(2):61-66. https://doi.org/10.3168/jdsc.2020-0033