Since it was first recognized in the early 1960's, mycoplasma mastitis has been reported in many dairy farms throughout the United States. Mycoplasma are opportunistic invaders and can cause joint infections, pneumonia, metritis, and mastitis. Several species of Mycoplasma have been found in dairy cattle, but by far the most prevalent is Mycoplasma bovis, which is responsible for more than half of all reported isolates. This specie also causes the most severe infections of any Mycoplasma organism known to cause disease in cattle.
