First case of Mycoplasma bovis in New Zealand

Dairy farmers in New Zealand have been urged to keep an eye on their cattle following an outbreak of the highly contagious disease Mycoplasma bovis.

The disease, although quite common in other parts of the world including Australia, has infected a dairy herd in South Canterbury which is the first recorded case of it in New Zealand.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is responding to the detection of the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis in 14 cows in the dairy herd. About 150 cows on the property have clinical signs that indicate they, too, may be affected.

MPI is now tracing movements of animals on and off the property to ascertain if other properties are at risk.

Geoff Gwyn, the ministry’s director of response, said the disease did not infect humans and presented no food safety risk. He added there was no concern about consuming milk and milk products.

Ministry vets were informed of sick cattle at the property last week and the disease was confirmed five days later at the ministry’s Animal Health Laboratory.

A team of officials are said to be “working hard at the farm to ensure the disease did not spread”.

Restrictions forbidding the movement of stock from the farm have been put in place by the ministry until the scale of infection is determined.

Mr Gwyn said: “Right now we’re working with the farmer to contain the disease to the affected farm and treat the animals showing symptoms.”

According to Sydney University Associate Professor John House there is no treatment available for milking cows, which, if affected, have to be culled.

Mycoplasma bovis can infect calves and cows and cause pneumonia, udder infection (mastitis), abortion, arthritis, tendinitis, middle-ear infection and endometriosis and is potentially fatal.

The ministry has urged farmers to contact their vet if stock show unusual levels of mastitis, abortions or present with arthritis or pneumonia.

The disease spreads easily, including through nose to nose contact, feed, water and bedding material and by workers.