Detection of Mycoplasma bovigenitalium and Mycoplasma tauri in Holstein Friesian dairy cows with subclinical endometritis

Abstract

Mycoplasma spp. is the cause of serious cattle health disorders that lead to poor reproductive efficiency. Chronic seminal vesiculitis, infertility, vulvovaginitis and dystocia were observed in Mycoplasma spp. infection. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the frequency of Mycoplasmas in the uterus of postpartum dairy cows and its potential role in the occurrence of subclinical endometritis. Our study included 102 Holstein Friesian dairy cows 22-32 days postpartum. Uterine samples for cytological, bacteriological, and molecular analysis were provided using Cytoprint AI®. Metricheck® was used for the assessment of cervicovaginal mucus. After detection of Mycoplasma spp. genome in uterine samples, the swabs of the vulva, vagina, nasal swab, and samples of milk were sampled in order to exclude possible contamination with other microorganisms as potential trigger of subclinical endometritis. The genome of Mycoplasma spp. in the uterus was confirmed in 4 cows (2.40%). Sequencing of the 16S RNA revealed that detected mycoplasmas belonged to Mycoplasma bovigenitalium and Mycoplasma tauri species, with a prevalence of 1.80% and 0.6%, respectively. The cytological evaluation showed a 69.90%, 54.87% and 48.33% of polymorphonuclear cells for M. bovigenitalium positive cows, and 61.64% for M. tauri positive cow. Bacteriological examination revealed Trueperella pyogenes in uterine samples in all 4 observed cows. This is the first study where M. tauri was detected in the uterus of a live cow with subclinical enodmetritis. In this paper we hypothesized that M. bovigenitalium and M. tauri may have a certain role in the etiology of subclinical enodmetritis.