Increased severity of calf pneumonia associated with the appearance of Mycoplasma bovis in a rearing herd

Agricultural and Food Research Council Institute for Animal Health, Compton Laboratory, Newbury, Berkshire.

An increase in deaths in calves from respiratory disease from an average of 9.7 per year to 36.5 per year corresponded with the isolation of Mycoplasma bovis from the lungs. It is suggested that this mycoplasma enhanced the severity of the disease which was normally present on the farm. The characteristic microscopic lesion and demonstration of M bovis by immunoperoxidase labelling could be useful aids to diagnosis.