“New and Emerging Mycoplasma spp of Cattle”

Mycoplasmas cause some of the most serious and economically most costly respiratory diseases of cattle. Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), the only bacterial disease classified by the World Organisation of Animal Health classified as a list A disease, is caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides small colony (SC) variant. This mycoplasma was isolated just over a century ago but, while Europe has been free for over 8 years, it still presents immense problems in Africa. Mycoplasma bovis is a major, and often overlooked, cause of calf pneumonia, mastitis, arthritis and other conditions. In addition to these respiratory pathogens, M. dispar, Ureaplasma diversum, M. bovigenitalium, M. bovirhinis and, more recently M. canis and M alkalescens, have been isolated from the lungs of pneumonic cattle though not all are believed to be primary causes of disease. M. dispar, a proven pathogen, is an extremely fastidious organism which accounts for its under reporting; often involved in pleuropneumonia in older cattle. Mycoplasmas, including M. bovigenitalium and Ureaplasma species, have also been implicated in reproductive disease including endometritis and infertility in which mycoplasma-contaminated semen may be involved. The review will discuss the role of these mycoplasmas in disease.

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Dr. Lawrence K. Fox, MS, PhD
Professor, Field Disease Investigation Unit
College of Veterinary Medicine
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington, USA

Dr. Larry Fox is a professor and member of the Field Disease Investigation Unit at Washington State University. His research efforts are focused on new methods of control of contagious mastitis. These efforts are principally directed at control of Staphylococcus aureus and Mycoplasma spp. mastitis. Focus is directed at the development and validation of strategies to control this disease through applied and basic research. Larry is utilizing biotechnologies to "fingerprint" S. aureus and Mycoplasma spp., to trace the pathogen from its reservoir to fomite to the host, the cow, for these two pathogen types. Other specific areas of research include: the control of S. aureus mastitis in cows through the vaccination; exotoxins in milk and its affects on milk quality and mammary immunity; and the determination of reservoirs of Mycoplasma spp. that cause mastitis. Dr. Fox has at least 10 publications that relate directly to his presentation on the role of Mycoplasma bovis in mastitis of dairy cattle.

“Epidemiology of Mycoplasma Mastitis”

Mycoplasma mastitis has historically been considered a contagious pathogen that is transmitted in a fashion typical of other contagious mastitis pathogens (such as, S. aureus and S. agalactiae). Such transmission is believed to occur mostly during milking time, and that introduction of mycoplasma mastitis can occur through the importation of infected cattle from outside the dairy. While, contagious mastitis control procedures have been effective in controlling some outbreaks of mycoplasma mastitis, new methods of control might be warranted. Current data suggests that a significant number of new outbreaks may occur via internal or animal to animal transmission of mycoplasma mastitis pathogens from asymptomatic carriers. This presentation will challenge the paradigmatic view of the epidemiology of mycoplasma mastitis and review studies that show that transmission of Mycoplasma sp. occurs internally and that extra-mammary nidus of colonization of Mycoplasma sp. may lead to mastitis.

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Dr. Christopher Schneider is an Assistant Professor of the faulty of the University of Idaho Animal and Veterinary Science Department. Dr. Schneider earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology (1992), a Masters of Science degree in Animal Sciences-Reproductive Physiology (1995) and a DVM (1999) from Washington State University, Pullman, WA. From 1999 to 2004 he was in an 11-person dairy practice in Tulare, CA. He joined the University of Idaho in 2004. His area of specialty includes cattle Production Medicine and bovine Theriogenology. He teaches a variety of undergraduate and veterinary classes. Prior to his academic appointment he was a food animal veterinarian in central California. His research interests include maximizing bovine reproductive efficiency and increasing animal health on large-scale calf rearing units. Recent work in his laboratory has been focused on investigating the pathophysiology of Mycoplasma bovis disease and the development of experimental models to test clinical treatment modalities.

“Epidemiology and Clinical Presentation of M. bovis in Young Calves”

This presentation will focus on the epidemiology of Mycoplasma bovis disease in cattle and their calves. Information will be presented on the distribution, incidence, prevalence and risk factors associated with M. bovis diseases in the cattle industries of the Western United States. Data from on-going research trials will be presented concerning the development of animal models to study the pathophysiology of calfhood otitis and mastitis. The utility of accessible body site sampling in conjunction with standard culture techniques for identifying subclinically infected calves will be discussed.

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Dr. Eugene Janzen received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) in 1972 from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Dr. Janzen spent three years practicing in northeastern Alberta before returning to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine on an Alberta-sponsored fellowship to complete a post-graduate degree. Dr. Janzen received a Master of Veterinary Science degree from the University of Melbourne, Australia in 1977. In 1977, he accepted a position with the Ambulatory Clinic at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. In this position, Dr. Janzen has spent his time working with a general interest in beef cattle medicine and production. Dr. Janzen became associated with Feedlot Health Management Services in 2003. He is currently Assistant Dean of Clinical Practice at the newly created University of Calgary school of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Janzen is perhaps the most widely recognized extension veterinarian in western Canada. He has been directly involved in the teaching of more than 2500 veterinary graduates from the WCVM and was the principle contact person for the WCVM’s Disease Investigation Unit. Dr. Janzen is widely recognized for his expertise in the area of cow-calf and feedlot production and has been lectured around the world on these topics. He is an engaging speaker and is well respected by his peers.

“Epidemiology and Clinical Presentation of Chronic Pneumonia and Polyarthritis Syndrome (CPPS) in Feedlot Cattle”

This presentation will provide a broad overview of the epidemiology of the disease syndrome, Chronic Pneumonia and Polyarthritis Syndrome (CPPS), attributed to Mycoplasma bovis. Using data generated from feedlots in Alberta and Saskatchewan, this presentation will discuss the epidemiological parameters of this disease, including the time of its occurrence in the feedlot, its association with ‘high risk’ calves, as well as the proportional morbidity and mortality that is presumptively attributed to M. bovis. This disease also has a significant animal welfare component, caused by the severe polyarthritis which leads to lameness and recumbency. The topic of when to euthanize chronic animals, because of animal welfare concerns will be discussed. The presentation will cover the antemortem clinical signs of the disease, leaving Dr. Ted Clark to provide a more indepth discussion of the gross and histopathological changes associated with this syndrome. Dr. John Campbell will discuss the economics of this disease to the livestock sector in western Canada.

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Dr. John Campbell graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1985 and then spent 3 years working in mixed practice in Ontario before returning to the University of Guelph to complete a Doctor of Veterinary Science degree. Dr. Campbell has been a member of the WCVM faculty since 1991 and he teaches beef cattle health management and epidemiology at the Veterinary College. He holds a joint appointment with the University of Saskatchewan - School of Public Health and is actively involved in the Master of Public Health program. His clinical responsibilities involve working on the beef cattle ambulatory practice at WCVM. His research focus is in infectious disease epidemiology of cattle, antimicrobial resistance and zoonoses. He is the 2007 recipient of the Carl Block Award for his contributions to Canada’s national animal health program and is the recipient of the 2008 Western Canadian Association of Bovine Practitioners Veterinarian of the Year Award. Dr. Campbell is the winner of 3 teaching awards including the Pfizer Distinguished Teacher Award and he is an author or co-author of 45 peer-reviewed journal articles.

“Economic Impact of Mycoplasma bovis on the Cattle Industry”

Bovine respiratory disease has been described as the most significant economic disease of beef cattle in North America. In 2006, it was estimated that this disease cost the U.S. beef industry approximately $690 million dollars in losses. Estimates for the costs incurred associated with Mycoplasma bovis infections are not well described. One European study suggested that M. bovis would cost 144 million Euros per year for the European cattle industry and $32 million per year for the U.S. industry. Estimates in Europe also describe a loss of 25 Euros per dairy calf and 58 Euros per veal calf in Europe. There is little doubt that this organism results in severe economic losses. The chronic nature of the M. bovis infection will result in significantly higher treatment costs, weight loss, and lower salvage value for those animals that survive. Mortalities associated with Mycoplasma bovis may account for as much as 30% of mortalities in feedlots that feed predominantly calves.

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Dr. Jeff Caswell is a veterinary anatomic pathologist, an Associate Professor in the Department of Pathobiology at the University of Guelph, and an Associate Editor of the journal Veterinary Pathology. Dr. Caswell graduated with his DVM in 1990 from the University of Guelph (Ontario Veterinary College). He then spent 2 years in private practice before returning to the OVC to complete his Doctor of Veterinary Science in 1995. The following year he became a Diplomate (Board Certification) of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and in 1999 he received his PhD from the University of Saskatchewan in Veterinary Pathology. Major research interests relate to the pathogenesis of Mycoplasma bovis pneumonia in beef cattle, and innate immune responses in the lung of cattle and why these fail to defend against bacterial pathogens. Dr. Caswell has 39 peer-reviewed publications in refereed journals, two book chapters and over 30 published conference proceedings and poster presentations. This extensive research record is even more impressive given that teaching duties account for greater than 50% of his time as a professor at the OVC.

“Role of Mycoplasma bovis in Bovine Respiratory Disease”

This session will address controversies regarding the roles of M. bovis, concurrent diseases, and host factors in the development of bovine respiratory disease. Experimental infection with M. bovis can cause the characteristic lesions of caseonecrotic bronchopneumonia, yet these experimental cases seem not to develop the severity of the lesions seen in natural cases. Further, examination of field cases with a variety of techniques reveals a close association with pneumonic pasteurellosis, and suggests that some naturally occurring lesions of M. bovis pneumonia may evolve out of earlier lesions of pneumonic pasteurellosis. Bacterial genotyping is in progress to further investigate these hypotheses.

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Dr. Edward G. ("Ted") Clark received his DVM from the Ontario Veterinary College (Guelph, Ontario) in 1966. After graduation he spent 9 years in large animal practice in rural Saskatchewan. In 1977 he graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) with a Master of Veterinary Science in Pathology. From 1977-2005 he was employed as a Diagnostic Veterinary Pathologist with the Department of Veterinary Pathology (WCVM) and Prairie Diagnostic Services. Since 2005 he has been living in Calgary and is employed by the CARE Centre Animal Diagnostic Laboratory, Calgary Alberta. Since the mid-1980s he has seen hundreds of cases of Chronic Pneumonia and Polyarthritis Syndrome (CPPS) in feedlot cattle; a disease that is attributed to Mycoplasma bovis. Dr. Clark has also been involved in the histopathology and immunohistochemistry for this CPPS since the early 1990s. He has lectured extensively on this subject to various organizations and veterinary/producer groups including this past summer in Argentina. As a diagnostic pathologist, he has seen as many or more cases of this disease than any other diagnostician in North America and hence is imminently qualified to provide a presentation on the pathology of this disease.

“Gross Pathology of Chronic Pneumonia and Polyarthritis Syndrome (CPPS) in Feedlot Cattle”

This presentation will emphasize the gross lesions of CPPS as seen in feedlot cattle in western Canada. The presentation will primarily be pictures of the lung and joint lesions with some histopathology and immunohistochemical pictures to allow differentiation from other bacterial infections in feedlot cattle. The pictures will emphasize the varying degrees of severity of lesions which are typical of this syndrome, and will also attempt to compare the Mycoplasma bovis lesions of CPPS with Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia caused by Mycoplasma mycoides small colony (SC) type.

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Dr. Hugh Cai is a veterinarian who graduated in China. He received his MSc in medical microbiology from University of Ottawa and DVSc (doctor of veterinary science) in veterinary bacteriology from University of Guelph. Since 1997 Hugh has been working on molecular diagnosis of veterinary infectious diseases at the Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph.

“Laboratory and Investigative Diagnostic Techniques for M. bovis”

Hugh will present, from the view of practical diagnosis, different techniques for bovine mycoplasma identification. Bovine mycoplasma culture isolation, Mycoplasma bovis real-time PCR, mycoplasma characterization using fluorescence antibody test and 16S rDNA sequence, Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) and antibiotic resistance profiles will be covered. The principle, pros and cons for each techniques, and future diagnostic means will be discussed.

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Dr. Murray Jelinski
Alberta Chair in Beef Cattle Health and Production Medicine
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences
Western College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Dr. Murray Jelinski graduated with his DVM from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 1985. Following graduation he established a mixed animal practice in rural Saskatchewan, which he operated for 7 years. In 1992, he returned to the WCVM to complete a MSc in epidemiology; investigating the epidemiology of fatal stomach (abomasal) ulcers in unweaned beef calves. From 1992-1995 he was the Manager of Regulatory Affairs and Product Development for Hoechst Roussel Vet (Regina, SK). He then returned to Saskatoon to work as the Director of Regulatory Affairs for a small biotechnology company, Biostar. This company was acquired in 2000 by an American biotechnology company (MetaMorphix Inc.) and Dr. Jelinski then became the General Manager of the MMI’s Canadian division. In 2003, Dr. Jelinski accepted the position of Alberta Chair in Beef Cattle and Production Medicine (“Alberta Beef Chair”), a position that was created to encourage veterinary students to pursue a career in food animal practice. Dr. Jelinski has spent the last two and half years studying the demographics of the veterinary profession and has an active M. bovis research program. From this research came the idea to host an international conference dedicated to bovine mycoplasmosis.

“Use of Molecular Typing in Epidemiological Studies” – Research Summary

This presentation will show how molecular fingerprinting techniques, specifically, amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), can be utilized in epidemiological studies. Nasal swabs were collected from over 1400 feedlot calves on entry into the feedlot. Animals that became sick or died from mycoplasmosis at the time of treatment and necropsy (included lung and joint samples). The strain of M. bovis (if present) at the time of entry was then compared to those isolates recovered at the time of treatment and death. In a separate study, feedlot practitioners in western Canada were asked to submit lung and joint material from animals that had gross pathological signs consistent with M. bovis. Isolates from these animals were cultured and typed to assess the homogeneity of the strains of M. bovis across time and geographical location.

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Dr. Ricardo Rosenbusch received his DMV from the University of Buenos Aires (1964), and his MS (1966) and PhD (1969) from Iowa State University. Since 1986 he has been a professor in the Veterinary Medical Research Institute & Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa. Dr. Rosenbusch has been a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists since 1978. His primary research interests involve bovine respiratory disease and infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis. Of particular interest is bovine respiratory and ocular mycoplasmas. Dr. Rosenbusch has an extensive publication record with 11 peer-reviewed publications that are related to his planned presentation on genomics and its role in mycoplasma pathogenicity. In addition to these related publications, in the last 2 years he has given 8 other presentations related specifically to mycoplasmosis. He is truly an international speaker, having made numerous presentations at the 17th International Organization for Microbiology Congress in Tianjin, China. Dr. Rosenbusch’s name is synonymous with bovine Mycoplamosis and research in this area.

“Genome Analysis in M. bovis: A Window into Pathogenicity”

The talk will focus on efforts devoted to developing a transposon library for a pathogenic strain of Mycoplasma bovis, the characterization of the library of mutants, and cattle infection research with these mutants. The objective of the presentation is to provide an overview of the types of pathogenicity attributes observed for Mycoplasma bovis, and the knowledge available on the genetic basis for these attributes.

“Vaccine-Enhanced Pathology in Calves Vaccinated with Mycoplasma bovis Bacterins” – Research Summary

Seven different Mycoplasma bovis bacterins were tested for protective effect using two respiratory disease challenge models in calves. Vaccine-enhanced pathology was observed in all cases. Early and late lung immune response parameters were measured after challenge to characterize this vaccine-enhanced pathology.


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Dr. Roger Ayling has worked at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Weybridge, England) for 35 years, gaining a wealth of experience in bacteriology and specifically Mycoplasma species during the past 12 years, where his work includes research, diagnosis and the control of mycoplasmas. Dr. Ayling received his PhD from King’s College London, on the subject of the Diagnosis and Control of Mycoplasma bovis and Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides small colony in cattle. He is currently Secretary-General of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology (IOM) and chair the chemotherapy committee of the International Research Programme of Comparative Mycoplasmology. Dr. Ayling has presented at numerous International Conferences and has more than 70 publications.

“Understanding Antimicrobial Sensitivity Testing”

In vitro antimicrobial sensitivity testing of zoonotic bacteria using established methods and control cultures is routinely performed in many laboratories. Interpretation of the results of these in vitro minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) tests is standardised and relate to the effectiveness of the antimicrobial in vivo (breakpoints). Guidelines for testing veterinary mycoplasmas have been produced, but their fastidious nature has meant that standardised testing methods, standard controls and breakpoints are currently lacking. Recent work has focussed on standardising the MIC testing for human mycoplasmas and proposals are in place to carry out similar work on selected economically important veterinary species. Currently workers tend to relate MIC data from veterinary mycoplasmas to that of other bacteria, thus interpreting data broadly into sensitive, intermediate and resistant antimicrobials. However, as mycoplasma infections are insidious, knowledge of the kinetics and dispersal of the antimicrobials within the host is required to fully assess the significance of MIC data. MIC methods, MIC data and information on antimicrobial resistance will be presented.

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Dr. Michael Apley is a Kansas State University DVM with a PhD in physiology (pharmacology). He is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology. His practice background includes 2 years in general practice in central Kansas and 4 years in a feedlot consulting/contract research practice based in Greeley, Colorado. Dr. Apley was on the faculty at Iowa State University for 9 years. In 2005 he moved to the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Kansas State University. Dr. Apley works with veterinarians throughout the United States concerning the use of drugs in food animals and also in the area of beef cattle health with an emphasis on feedlots. In addition, he teaches in the beef production medicine, large animal medicine, and pharmacology courses. Research interests include infectious disease, antimicrobial efficacy and resistance, pain, and applications of drugs in food animals. Dr. Apley is a past president of the Academy of Veterinary Consultants, President of the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology, and Director of PharmCATS, a bioanalytical laboratory with 2 analytical chemists and 4 board certified clinical pharmacologists.

“Antimicrobials for the Prevention and Treatment of Mycoplasmosis”

This presentation will elaborate on some of the antimicrobial sensitivity data provided in Dr. Ayling’s presentation, making specific reference to the changing antimicrobial sensitivities of mycoplasmas in North America. The presentation will also provide an overview of the pharmacodynamics of the main classes of antimicrobials, with emphasis being placed on the inherent difficulty in treating mycoplasma infections. The talk will conclude with a set of general recommendations for using antimicrobials for the prevention, metaphylaxis and treatment of mycoplasmas.

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Dr. Michael Calcutt received a BSc. in Microbiology from the University of Sheffield, UK in 1983 and a PhD from the Department of Biochemistry, University of Leicester, UK. in 1988. His graduate research was in the genetics and biochemistry of antibiotic resistance mechanisms and was performed in the laboratory of Prof. Eric Cundliffe. In 1988, Dr. Calcutt undertook a postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Dr. Frank Schmidt at the University of Missouri (MU), during which time he studied mechanisms of antibiotic biosynthesis, antibiotic resistance and DNA replication in Actinomycetes. Following a two year project on harnessing combinatorial phage display systems for recovering autoimmune antibodies in the laboratory of Dr Susan Deutscher, MU, the main focus of Dr. Calcutt’s research has been the use of molecular genetics and genomics to study the pathobiology of mycoplasmas. This research began in the laboratory of Dr. Kim Wise, MU in 1995 and transitioned to an independent laboratory in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, MU in 2001. Dr. Calcutt is currently an Associate Professor with research emphasis on novel genetic elements in Mycoplasma genomes, genome analysis of Mycoplasma species that infect ruminants (in collaboration with Dr. K. Wise) and mechanisms of antigenic variation in mycoplasmas. As part of an ongoing collaboration between Dr. Wise and the J.C. Venter Institute, Dr. Calcutt has participated in the sequencing and annotation of the genomes of Mycoplasma capricolum, Mycoplasma bovis, Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides Small Colony biotype and Mycoplasma sp. bovine serogroup 7.

“Genomic Perspectives of Mycoplasma Pathobiology”

Dr. Calcutt’s presentation will describe the features of ruminant mycoplasmas that have been deduced through complete genome sequencing, gene annotation and comparative analysis with other bacterial genomes. Particular emphasis will be given to those features that are prevalent among mycoplasmal pathogens, and will include mechanisms of antigenic variation that are anticipated to contribute to host adaptation and virulence. The role of mobile genetic elements in genome variation and their development as genetic tools will be discussed, together with an update on the biochemical properties of Mycoplasma bovis surface proteins and their potential use in diagnostic applications.

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Dr. Jose Perez-Casal obtained a master degree in 1980 and a PhD degree in 1988 from the National University of Tucuman, Argentina. In the past he has worked on human pathogens such as Streptococcus pyogenes, entero-pathogenic Escherichia coli, Campylobacter spp and Helicobacter pylori. Dr. Perez-Casal currently works as senior Research Scientist at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and is an Adjunct professor in the department of Veterinary Microbiology at the WCVM. While at VIDO he has worked on Streptococcus suis, a pig pathogen and since 2000 has been in charge of the VIDO mastitis research program. In 2006, he initiated the Mycoplasma bovis project with the objective of developing a vaccine that can be administered in neonatal calves at the time of branding followed by a boost immunization at the time of the shipment to the feedlot. Funding for the Mycoplasma project includes research grants from the Ontario Cattlemen’s Association (OCA), Alberta Livestock Development Fund (ALIDF), Saskatchewan Agriculture Development Fund, Alberta Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food (ACAAF) program. Funding for the mastitis project includes the Canadian Bovine Mastitis Research Network. Dr. Perez-Casal has published 28 papers in internationally recognized peer-reviewed journals, has made numerous presentations at scientific meetings and holds 3 patents. His areas of specialty include bacterial pathogenesis and vaccine development.

“Antigen Targets for Vaccine Development Against Mycoplasma bovis”

This presentation will focus on current research in pursue of a vaccine against M. bovis. The presentation will center upon the current knowledge regarding M. bovis antigens and their potential use as components of a vaccine. The presentation will include current research carried out at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, specifically the use of the conserved glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) protein as a potential antigen and the use of novel adjuvants to promote a balanced immune response.

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Dr. Konrad Sachse has been the Deputy Head of the Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis at the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (Federal Research Institute for Animal Health) in Jena, Germany since 2006. Dr. Sashse received a Diploma with Distinction in chemistry (1973) from the Voronezh State University (Russia) and his Doctorate from the University of Leipzig, Germany (1982). He has had over 15 professional appointments on Editorial Advisory Boards for referred journals, as well as various European working groups and is currently a Member of the Board of the European Society for Chlamydia Research. Since 1995 he has been a member of the Working Team on Ruminant Mycoplasmas of the International Research Programme on Comparative Mycoplasmology (IRPCM). Dr. Sashse has been the Leader of this same group since 2000. Dr. Sashse has an extensive publication record and has an international reputation in the area of Chlamydiosis and Mycoplasmosis.

“Surface Antigen Variation in Mycoplasmas - Mechanisms and Consequences”

Mycoplasma infections in animals and humans are rarely of the fulminant type but rather follow a chronic course, indicating a general failure of host defense mechanisms to eliminate these bacteria. Variation of surface components is assumed to play a central role in establishing the chronic nature of mycoplasma infections. Phase variation involves random and spontaneous ON/OFF switching of variable genes at high frequency. Whereas size variation is a change in the number of repetitive units in certain domains of individual surface proteins, resulting in an increase or decrease in the number of epitopes on the mycoplasmal surface. This may allow mycoplasmas to modulate their immunogenic potential and/or their ability to attach to the host cell surface. Conceivably, the host’s immune response or environmental conditions may cause Mycoplasmas to increase or decrease the intensity of their interaction with the host.

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Dr. László Stipkovits is currently employed at the Veterinary Medical Research Institute in Budapest, Hungary. He graduated from the Veterinary Academy, Moscow, Russia. His postdoctoral studies were conducted at Stanford University (Stanford, CA), Aarhus University (Aarhus, Denmark) and Laboratoire the Biologie Cellulaire et Moleculaire, INRA (Bordeaux, France). He was a visiting scientist at the following: Institut für bakterielle Tierseuchenforschung (Jena, Germany), University of Bern (Bern, Switzerland, and Veterinary Research Institute (Ames, Iowa). Dr. Stipkovits has authored over 270 scientific papers.

“Comparison of the Biology of Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides SC (CBPP) to M. bovis”

Mycoplasma bovis infection is very often detected in majority of countries of European and American continents. However, its prevalence in certain herds varies very much depending on the size of the herd and on management practice and hygienic conditions on the farm. Since the epizootological characteristics, clinical picture and pathological lesions associated with M. bovis infection are very similar to the disease caused by M. mycoides subspecies mycoides SC (CBPP), there is a risk that a bona fide case of Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) could be mistaken for a manifestation of M. bovis. The situation is also complicated by the fact that the complement fixation test, which is used as the official diagnostic procedure for detection of the M. mycoides subspecies mycoides SC infection, some times gives non-specific reaction with sera from cattle infected with M. bovis. The M. bovis infection is also very much spread in certain countries of African continent such as Nigeria where CBPP is common. In such cases the M. bovis infection may aggravate the diseases induced by M. mycoides subspecies mycoides SC and it might interfere with the results of vaccination against it. The author will present some data regarding the biology of CBPP and the disease caused by M. bovis.

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Dr. Guido Ruggero Loria is currently the Director of Special Diagnostic Area of the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia (Italy) based in Palermo. He graduated as a veterinarian at University of Messina (Italy) and obtained his PhD from Kings College, University of London in 2008 on Contagious Agalactia. His academic and research interests include the pathology of livestock, particularly ruminant diseases by mycoplasmas, microbiology, veterinary laboratory services, and international cooperation.

“Lung Pathology in Cattle with Special Reference to CBPP and Other Bovine Mycoplasmoses: Different Sides of the Same Coin?”

The presentation will show gross pathology, histopathology and immunohistochemistry of lung lesions relating to bovine mycoplasmoses. The talk will cover CBPP pathology observed in different outbreaks in tropical and Mediterranean countries and comparing these with the emerging epidemics caused by M. bovis in UK and Italy and some notes on sporadic cases of M. canadense infection.

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Dr. Fiona Maunsell received her veterinary degree in 1990 from the University of Melbourne in Australia and worked in private mixed practice until 1993. After moving to the US in 1994, Dr. Maunsell completed an internship and a residency in food animal medicine and surgery at the University of Illinois and became a Diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (large animal). Following the residency, she held a clinical teaching faculty position in food animal medicine and surgery at the University of Illinois before moving to the University of Florida for her doctoral research training. She was awarded a PhD from the University of Florida in 2007; her research focused on the immune response to Mycoplasma bovis in very young calves and was performed in the laboratory of Dr. Mary Brown. She is currently a Research Assistant Professor in the University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine where she collaborates with Dr. Brown on research involving ruminant mycoplasmal infections. Recent or ongoing projects include the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis in goat mycoplasmal pathogens, the epidemiology of M. bovis within dairy herds, the molecular epidemiology of M. bovis isolates from throughout the US, and 454 sequencing and annotation of a field isolate of M. bovis to facilitate studies of pathogenic mechanisms.

“Factors associated with mycoplasma colonization of dairy calves in a herd with endemic mycoplasmal disease” – Research Summary

This research summary will focus on a study in which the mycoplasma colonization and disease status of dairy calves was followed from birth to 5 months of age in a herd with endemic mycoplasmal disease. Data on the patterns of nasal and tonsil colonization and factors that were associated with risk of infection and disease will be presented. We found that pre-weaning environment had a major effect on M. bovis infection and clinical disease in calves. Opportunities for improved control and prevention strategies for mycoplasmal disease in young calves were identified and will be discussed.

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Dr. Paola Pilo studied biology at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. She earned her PhD at the University of Bern, Switzerland, in 2004. Her graduate research was in the mechanisms of pathogenicity of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides Small Colony. After the completion of her PhD studies, she worked as a research fellow for two years at Columbia University, New York, on interactions between intracellular bacteria and host cells with the aim of identifying genes involved in the diversion of normal eukaryotic membrane trafficking. In 2006, she moved back to the University of Bern. Paola Pilo’s research interests are host-pathogen interactions and molecular epidemiology and diagnosis of highly pathogenic bacteria and Mycoplasma sp.

“Genome Analysis and Virulence Genes of the Mycoplasma mycoides Group”

The Mycoplasma mycoides group contains several pathogenic Mycoplasma species where Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides SC, the ethological agent of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) and Mycoplasma leachii (formerly Mycoplasma bovine group 7) are the most prominent bovine pathogens. M. mycoides subsp. mycoides SC is considered the most pathogenic of the Mycoplasma species. Recent research shows that the virulence of M. mycoides subsp. mycoides SC is probably the result of a coordinated action of various components of an antigenically and functionally dynamic surface architecture. The different virulence attributes allow the pathogen to evade the host's immune defence, adhere tightly to the host cell surface, persist and disseminate in the host causing mycoplasmaemia, efficiently import energetically valuable nutrients present in the environment, and release and simultaneously translocate toxic metabolic pathway products to the host cell. This strategy enables the Mycoplasma to exploit the minimal genetic information in its small genome, not only to fulfil the basic functions for its replication, but also to damage host cells in its intimate proximity, thus acquiring for the necessary bio-molecules, such as amino acids and nucleic acid precursors, for its own biosynthesis and survival. Such knowledge of uncommon virulence pathways as found in Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides SC represent an important basis in order to develop correct strategies for the design of efficient and safe therapeutics and prophylactics.

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Susan Szathmary, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Scientific Officer of GalenBio. Dr. Szathmary is responsible for research and development activities of GalenBio. A serial entrepreneur, she co-founded several successful biotech companies and has overseen product development of FDA-approved medical devices. She received her M.D. degree from the Semmelweis School of Medicine and her Ph.D. degree (Pathogen-Host Interactions) from Szent Istvan University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, both in Budapest, Hungary. She was a postdoctoral fellow at the Temple University School of Medicine (Philadelphia) and a visiting professor at the USC School of Medicine in Los Angeles. Dr. Szathmary is on the Board of Research Triangle Europe (RTE), which is a large life sciences cluster in the tri-border region between Hungary, Austria and Slovakia. Dr. Szathmary has more than 40 published technical articles and holds over 10 patents in the life sciences area.

“Challenges in Developing Commercial Vaccines to Mycoplasma spp.”

Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides SC, the aetiological agent of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP). Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides SC is considered the most pathogenic of the Mycoplasma species. The pathogen evades the host’s immune system, while successfully infects the host cells, binding tightly to cell surface receptors. Even though, it does not seem to participate in the biofilm formation, it persists and disseminates in the host and release molecules into the host cells, which cause toxic effects and induce inflammatory processes. CBPP belongs to the A list of most severe infectious animal diseases (OIE). CBPP has demonstrated spread across international borders. The live vaccines currently used in the control of CBPP in Africa are derived from strain T1 of M. mycoides subsp. mycoides SC, which was developed in the 1950s. The vaccines currently administered to cattle are in the form of live bacteria pose a potential threat to cattle in areas free of CBPP. The biological safety aspects of this vaccine require particular attention. However, killed vaccines did not show efficacy similar to the live vaccine. Since CBPP is currently responsible for major losses in cattle production in Africa and is of major importance in the international trade of animals and animal products, new approaches to develop safe and efficacious vaccine are of outmost importance. The requirement for a new vaccine is not only to prevent the pathological lesions caused by CBPP, but also to eliminate the carrier state of the animals. Therefore, work should not only focus on the immunogenic regions of CBPP as antigens, but also on the newly developed adjuvant molecules, resulting in subunit, DNA or even synthetic peptide-based vaccines based on the better understanding of CBPP virulence mechanisms, immune evasion molecules and genetic diversity. The challenges in developing such vaccines for CBPP will be discussed.

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Dr. Francois Thiaucourt graduated with his DVM in 1982 from the Maisons Alfort Veterinary School France, Paris University. In 1983 he received his Certificate of Microbiology from the Pasteur Institute, and earned a PhD in 1994 from the Paris University. From 1980-1982 Dr. Thiaucourt was a lecturer in animal health at Mostaganem, Algeria (1980-1982). Then in Ethiopia at the National Veterinary Institute, Debre Zeit from 1984 to 1991, dealing first with the production of specific pathogen-free eggs, the study of poultry diseases, and then with epidemiological research into the ruminant mycoplasmas (Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), Contagious caprine Pleuropneumonia) and their effect on production and how this can be improved with the vaccines. He is currently employed by the Center for Cooperation for Research on Agronomy and Development (CIRAD) in Montpellier, France. Dr. Thiaucourt is Head of the bacteriology team for the “Control of Exotic and Emerging Animal Disease” unit. This unit is also a World reference laboratory for CBPP for the FAO and the CBPP Reference laboratory for the OIE. His current interests are in the comparative and functional genomics on ruminant mycoplasmas for improved diagnostic tests and new generation vaccines.

“The International Community’s Preparedness Strategy for Contagious Bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP)”

In Africa, very few countries have been able to gain and maintain a disease-free status. In the other countries, where the disease occurs in an enzootic form, control strategies are seldom applied in a sustainable way and many cattle owners rely on antibiotic treatments to possibly reduce their losses. As a consequence, CBPP persists in those countries and the economical impact of the disease is difficult to establish. These two situations require different types of preparedness, one which is an emergency preparedness relying on early detection and early action, the other being a long term strategy with tools that would allow the eradication of the disease. Molecular-based tools, such as real-time PCR, can be used in epidemiological investigations to trace the origin of the strains. However, it is questionable whether disease-free jurisdictions (i.e. Europe) would be able to rapidly identify a re-emergence of the disease, especially low pathogenic strains. There is a need for combined efforts to develop more efficient vaccines and alternative strategies that would allow developing countries to eradicate the disease at a lower cost.

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In 1983, Kee received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Kee is a founding partner of Feedlot Health Management Services Ltd. (FHMS). FHMS is a consulting company providing comprehensive herd health programs, veterinary and production consulting services, field veterinary services, and computerized individual animal data recording systems to feedlots throughout western Canada and the United States. FHMS is based in Okotoks, Alberta, Canada and currently provides production consulting services to beef feedlots with an annual throughput of greater than one million animals. In September 2008, Kee received the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP), Bovine Practitioner of the Year Award. Kee is a past recipient of the AABP Beef Award for Excellence in Veterinary Preventative Medicine, the Schering-Plough Animal Health Veterinary Award from the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, and the Canadian Animal Health Institute Leadership Award.

Kee Jim’s companies, G.K Jim Farms and affiliated companies Cattlinc Inc, Silverado Cattle Inc., Taweel Cattle Company Ltd., Korova Feeders Ltd., are major players in the Canadian cattle industry through ownership of cows, backgrounding cattle and feedlot cattle. In addition, Kee has served on the board of directors of several beef industry groups including the Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Livestock Identification Services Ltd, Canadian Cattle Identification Agency and Canada Beef Export Federation. Recently, he has served as Board Chair of the Canada Beef Export Federation and Vice Chairman of the Alberta Cattle Feeder’s Association. Currently, he serves on the board of the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency.

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