About

Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) causes debilitating chronic infections with the most severe symptoms reported in calves. These infections impair animal welfare and risk to increase the selection for antimicrobial resistance. M. bovis is most likely introduced by livestock movements. The main goal of the project is to increase the epidemiological knowledge about M. bovis and to propose and assess control strategies to stop the spread of M. bovis and protect free herds.

Specifically, within the project we will:

• WP1) study livestock movements of calves to understand regional patterns and changes over time
• WP2) develop a disease-spread model for M. bovis that includes how the bacteria spread within and between herds
• WP3) evaluate effects of control strategies in disease simulations considering economy, sampling, and prevalence
• WP4) increase the awareness among farmers, advisors, and veterinarians about M. bovis

The research team (SVA, SLU and Växa Sverige) has expertise in epidemiology, disease modelling, clinical signs, diagnostics and treatment of M. bovis, farm management, and economic analyses related to the efficiency of farm production.

(Source: Swedish Veterinary Agency. Read more (Swedish))

Communication about the project

• Research to stop the spread of Mycoplasma Bovis (Swedish)
• Questionnaire about biosecurity measures against Mycoplasma bovis (Swedish)
• Participate in a survey about Mycoplasma bovis (Swedish)

Learn more

• Mycoplasma Bovis (Swedish)

Publications

• Exploring structural changes in the Swedish cattle population and between-holding movements

Funding

This research project is funded by the Swedish Research Council FORMAS and co-funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Project EUPAHW

Collaboration