Improved PCR test for bovine mycoplasma

Veterinarians and farmers now have access to a new qPCR test to improve the diagnosis of mastitis and respiratory disease caused by Mycoplasma bovis.

The TaqVet Mycoplasma Bovis (M. bovis) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) kit is based on a new target gene in the M. bovis genome and thus can distinguish better between infections caused by M. bovis and M. agalactiae – so there is less risk of false positive results and improved sensitivity and specificity. The test is based on real-time PCR technology, and delivers results in just two and a half hours.

The new test was developed by Life Technologies Animal Health in its research laboratory near Lyon in France. The easy and rapid test will allow veterinarians to extend their diagnosis of Mycoplasma infections.

"The improved sensitivity of this new test means that veterinarians will be able to monitor dairy herds for sub-clinical infection using samples from the bulk tank," said Eric Sellal, Head of Animal Health EMEA at Life Technologies.

"And of course it can also be used to diagnose mycoplasma infection in individual cases of clinical mastitis and respiratory disease."

The test system incorporates a number of other improvements which simplify and speed up processing in the laboratory, including automatic extraction using magnetic bead technology.

It is estimated that bovine pneumonia costs the European industry around 500million Euros each year, with 30% accounted for by M. bovis. Other diseases associated with the organism include mastitis and arthritis.

Mycoplasma is slow and difficult to culture in the laboratory and current antibiotic treatment is not very cost-effective. Therefore, prevention is a cornerstone of M. bovis management.