Isolation of Mycoplasma bovis from bovine clinical samples in the Republicof Ireland

Mycoplasma bovis was detected in 134 (18 per cent) of 736 samples of bovine lung tissue collected from fatal pneumonia cases in the Republic of Irelan d between April 1995 and December 1998. The cases occurred in 95 herds and recurred in four of them. Other respiratory pathogens were identified in 66 per cent of the M bovis-positive cases, with Pasteurella species, infectio us bovine rhinotracheitis and parainfluenza 3 virus being most frequently d etected. Mastitis and arthritis were less common clinical signs associated with M bovis infection; 22 cases of M bovis mastitis and five cases of M bo vis arthritis,were diagnosed in five herds.