Molecular research of mollicutes spp. and Mycoplasma bovis in milk samples from mastitic cows and nasal swabs from their respective calves

• Grant number: 17/05555-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2017
• End date: April 30, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Helio Langoni
• Grantee: Brunna Mayla Vasconcelos Adorno
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Mycoplasma bovis is a microorganism present in the natural microbiota of the respiratory tract of cattle, however, it is considered an opportunistic pathogen of extreme importance in respiratory diseases in calves. In addition, it may be responsible for causing various diseases in the herd, such as mastitis, polyarthritis, pneumonia, endometritis, among others. Because is a highly contagious pathogen, animals with mastitis are potential disseminators of the infection to other animals, reaching about 106 a 108 CFU per mL of milk. The aim of this project is to perform the molecular detection of Mycoplasma bovis in milk samples from cows with prior microbiological isolation of Mycoplasma spp. and in nasal swab samples from their respective calves, using molecular biology (PCR). It is intended to associate the possible participation of the pathogen in bovine mastitis and as part of the microbiota of the respiratory tract of calves. DNA extraction from both secretions will be performed using the boiling method described by Fan et al. (1994). Then the samples will be submitted to the molecular diagnostic technique: Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Generic PCR primers will be used for amplification of Mollicutes DNA and positive samples will be submitted to PCR for amplification of M. bovis. (AU)