How is Mycoplasma bovis transmitted?
Mycoplasma bovis is commonly found in the upper respiratory tracts of cattle, and can also often be found in their urinary and reproductive tracts. It is highly contagious and moves between animals in several ways. Most common is aerosol transmission: through the air by nasal secretions and coughing. Routes for oral ingestion can include fences, troughs, nipples, and buckets. It can travel from infected animals to uninfected ones through direct contact, milk, or with infected semen. Infected cattle shed Mycoplasma bovis via the respiratory tract for months and even years, acting as reservoirs of infection. While it’s unclear what causes it to become virulent, stress seems to be an important factor in the induction of disease.
