Mycoplasmas were isolated from nasal swabs taken from in 194 cattle raised on 26 farms in 11 prefectures in Japan from August to October 2010. A total of 146 cattle (75.3%) on 25 farms (96.2%) tested positive for the isolation of
mycoplasmas, with
M. bovis in 90 cattle, and
M. bovirhinis and
M. alkalescens in 62 and 16 cattle, respectively. The isolation rate of
M. bovis in herds with respiratory and/or drop ear symptoms was higher than that in asymptomatic herds. The incidence of respiratory and/or ear drop symptoms and isolation rates of
M. bovis were higher in 2 to 3 month-old calves than in other age groups. Differing isolation rates of
M. bovis were not observed among Japanese black, Holstein, and crossbred cattle, although the incidence of respiratory and/or drop ear symptoms was higher in Holstein cattle.
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