Pathogenicity of <i>Mycoplasma bovis</i> isolates from some states in Nigeria inoculated intramammarily into lactating New Zealand white rabbits

Abstract

The focus of this study was to test the pathogenicity of Mycoplasma bovis isolated from cases of clinical mastitis in cattle in some states of Nigeria. Pathogenicity study of Mycoplasma bovis was carried out using five New Zealand White lactating rabbits, obtained from a local breeder in Ibadan, Nigeria. The left mammary glands of each rabbit were inoculated intracisternally with 1ml of 2.4 x 105 cfu/ml of Mycoplasma bovis obtained from cases of clinical mastitis in Nigeria. The right mammary glands served as control and received 1 ml of sterile Tryptose Soy broth each. The clinical signs, post-mortem and histological findings were recorded. Clinically, the rabbits were weak and anorexic with mortalities. Grossly, lesions were observed in the spleens, lungs and the ovaries, while the mammary glands were atrophied. This clearly showed the septicaemic nature of the Mycoplasma bovis isolated from the clinical mastitis cases hence proper hygienic practices should be implemented during milking for public health reasons.