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Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Veterinary bacteriology: information about important bacteria
Veterinary bacteriology


Species/Subspecies: Mycoplasmopsis bovis
Etymology: Genus name: similar to mycoplasma (fungus shaped).
Species epithet: of the ox.
Significance:  [Very important]   
Alternative Species Name(s):Mycoplasma bovis
Taxonomy:
Phylum
Mycoplasmatota
Class
Mollicutes
Order
Mycoplasmoidales
Family
Metamycoplasmataceae 
Genus
Mycoplasmopsis
Type Strain: Donetta = ATCC 25523 = NCTC 10131.
Macromorphology (smell):
Mycoplasmopsis bovis  Mycoplasmopsis bovis  
Forms small and very typical umbonated colonies ("fried egg appearance"), which can be observed in a microscope.
Micromorphology: Very small and pleomorphic
Gram +/Gram -:G-, but is normally not gram stained because the cells will then be fragmented.
Metabolism: Facultatively anaerobic. Does not ferment glucose and does not hydrolyze arginine. M. bovis utilizes organic acids och alcohols as energy sources.
Catalase/Oxidase:
Other Enzymes: Urease -
Spec. Char.: Lacks a cell wall.
Special Media:
Disease:Pneumonia (primarily in calves), mastitis and arthritis are the three most common diseases.
HostsDiseaseClinical picture
CattleMastitisMastitis caused by M. bovis can be subclinical or very severe. It is often associated with loss of milk production and purulent or serous udder exudate.
CattleArthritisSwollen joints, lameness, thrombosis
Cattle (calves)PneumoniaIncreased nasal discharge, coughing and caseonecrotic lungs.
CattleOtitsHanging with the ears, nystagmus ("eye tremor") facial paralysis, head tilt and lesions in the middle ear
CattleKerato-conjunctivitisInflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva (pink eyes)
CattleBrain disordersLethargy, blindness, teeth grinding and brain necrosis
Genome Sequence:
Acc-noStrainSize (bp)Genome
CP002188 DonettaT 1 003 404 1c + 1c 
Three strains have been sequenced and one plasmid has been found in all three strains

16S rRNA Seq.:
Acc-noStrainNumber of NTOperon
U02968 DonettaT 1 519 

Taxonomy/phylogeny:
Mycoplasmopsis bovis  
Mycoplasmopsis is the largest genus among mollicutes of veterinary importance and about 55 species have been described so far within this genus. M. bovis is closely related to M. agalactiae. See the phylogenetic tree (Fig. 34:3) where M can mean Mycoplasma, Mesomycoplasma, Metamycoplasma, Mycoplasmoides or Mycoplasmopsis.
Comment:Based on whole genome sequencing, the taxonomy of mycoplasmas has recently undergone a comprehensive revision. The new taxonomy has now been introduced in VetBact, but it will still be possible to search for the alternative species names. Read more about the revised taxonomy of the mollicutes under the Term list of VetBact and see also reference 164 below.
Reference(s): No. 164, 171
Updated:2023-03-15

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