Detection of Mycoplasma bovis in bulk tank milk samples from herds in southern Chile

Abstract

During July 1997, 71 bulk tank milk samples from dairy herds located in southern Chile were examined for mycoplasma by bacteriological culture. Fifty-three composite milk samples from cows with clinical mastitis or high somatic cell counts were also examined. Isolates were differentiated to species level by an indirect immunoperoxidase test. Mycoplasma bovis was isolated from five herds while Acholeplasma laidlawii was isolated from two herds. Only one cow milk sample yielded A.laidlawii; the remaining 52 samples were negative for mycoplasma. This is the first report of isolation of mycoplasma from cow milk in Chile. Veterinarians and dairy farmers should be aware that mycoplasma bovine mastitis, a highly contagious disease, is present in dairy herds in Chile.