Prevalence of bacteria involved in bovine respiratory disease in dairy heifers in Spain: influence of environmental factors

IntroductionBovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) is a multifactorial condition and a major health and economic concern in dairy production.MethodsThis study aimed to determine the prevalence of five key bacterial pathogens—Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Trueperella pyogenes, Mycoplasma b...

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Main Authors: Sandra Barroso-Arévalo, Michela Re, José María San Miguel Ayanz, Eugenia Peralta Val, Alberto Alvarado-Piqueras, Rocío Fernández-Valeriano, Javier Blanco-Murcia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Veterinary Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1605045/full
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author Sandra Barroso-Arévalo
Michela Re
José María San Miguel Ayanz
Eugenia Peralta Val
Alberto Alvarado-Piqueras
Rocío Fernández-Valeriano
Javier Blanco-Murcia
author_facet Sandra Barroso-Arévalo
Michela Re
José María San Miguel Ayanz
Eugenia Peralta Val
Alberto Alvarado-Piqueras
Rocío Fernández-Valeriano
Javier Blanco-Murcia
author_sort Sandra Barroso-Arévalo
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionBovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) is a multifactorial condition and a major health and economic concern in dairy production.MethodsThis study aimed to determine the prevalence of five key bacterial pathogens—Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Trueperella pyogenes, Mycoplasma bovis, and Histophilus somni—in Spanish dairy heifers and to evaluate the influence of seasonality, geographical location, farm size, and antibiotic use. In 2017, samples (deep nasopharyngeal swabs, transtracheal aspirates, and blood) were collected from 855 heifers (<12 months old) in 50 farms across Spain. Bacterial isolation and serological testing (ELISA) were performed.ResultsMycoplasma spp. showed the highest overall prevalence (26.7% at the individual level by culture; 75.7% of cultured farms), with PCR confirming M. bovis in 89% of Mycoplasma-positive farms. Serology revealed 16.3% individual-level positivity for M. bovis and 63% farm-level positivity. T. pyogenes was also notable, detected in 6.0% of animals (45% of farms). Lower isolation rates were observed for M. haemolytica (2.5%) and P. multocida (3.5%), while H. somni was not detected. Larger farm size, winter season, and certain regions were significantly associated with higher prevalence of M. bovis and T. pyogenes.DiscussionThese findings underscore the need for improved management practices—such as better ventilation, reduced stocking density, and targeted vaccination—to mitigate BRD risk in high-prevalence settings.
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spelling doaj-art-7a93ae44ca0144a2abb8129214fc70712025-08-20T02:38:01ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692025-06-011210.3389/fvets.2025.16050451605045Prevalence of bacteria involved in bovine respiratory disease in dairy heifers in Spain: influence of environmental factorsSandra Barroso-Arévalo0Michela Re1José María San Miguel Ayanz2Eugenia Peralta Val3Alberto Alvarado-Piqueras4Rocío Fernández-Valeriano5Javier Blanco-Murcia6Department of Internal Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, SpainDepartment of Internal Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, SpainZoetis Spain S.L.U., Madrid, SpainZoetis Spain S.L.U., Madrid, SpainGroup of Rehabilitation of the Autochthonous Fauna and Their Habitat (GREFA), Wildlife Hospital, Madrid, SpainGroup of Rehabilitation of the Autochthonous Fauna and Their Habitat (GREFA), Wildlife Hospital, Madrid, SpainDepartment of Internal Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, SpainIntroductionBovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) is a multifactorial condition and a major health and economic concern in dairy production.MethodsThis study aimed to determine the prevalence of five key bacterial pathogens—Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Trueperella pyogenes, Mycoplasma bovis, and Histophilus somni—in Spanish dairy heifers and to evaluate the influence of seasonality, geographical location, farm size, and antibiotic use. In 2017, samples (deep nasopharyngeal swabs, transtracheal aspirates, and blood) were collected from 855 heifers (<12 months old) in 50 farms across Spain. Bacterial isolation and serological testing (ELISA) were performed.ResultsMycoplasma spp. showed the highest overall prevalence (26.7% at the individual level by culture; 75.7% of cultured farms), with PCR confirming M. bovis in 89% of Mycoplasma-positive farms. Serology revealed 16.3% individual-level positivity for M. bovis and 63% farm-level positivity. T. pyogenes was also notable, detected in 6.0% of animals (45% of farms). Lower isolation rates were observed for M. haemolytica (2.5%) and P. multocida (3.5%), while H. somni was not detected. Larger farm size, winter season, and certain regions were significantly associated with higher prevalence of M. bovis and T. pyogenes.DiscussionThese findings underscore the need for improved management practices—such as better ventilation, reduced stocking density, and targeted vaccination—to mitigate BRD risk in high-prevalence settings.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1605045/fullbovine respiratory diseasebacterial prevalencedairy heifersMycoplasma bovisTrueperella pyogenesrisk factor
spellingShingle Sandra Barroso-Arévalo
Michela Re
José María San Miguel Ayanz
Eugenia Peralta Val
Alberto Alvarado-Piqueras
Rocío Fernández-Valeriano
Javier Blanco-Murcia
Prevalence of bacteria involved in bovine respiratory disease in dairy heifers in Spain: influence of environmental factors
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
bovine respiratory disease
bacterial prevalence
dairy heifers
Mycoplasma bovis
Trueperella pyogenes
risk factor
title Prevalence of bacteria involved in bovine respiratory disease in dairy heifers in Spain: influence of environmental factors
title_full Prevalence of bacteria involved in bovine respiratory disease in dairy heifers in Spain: influence of environmental factors
title_fullStr Prevalence of bacteria involved in bovine respiratory disease in dairy heifers in Spain: influence of environmental factors
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence of bacteria involved in bovine respiratory disease in dairy heifers in Spain: influence of environmental factors
title_short Prevalence of bacteria involved in bovine respiratory disease in dairy heifers in Spain: influence of environmental factors
title_sort prevalence of bacteria involved in bovine respiratory disease in dairy heifers in spain influence of environmental factors
topic bovine respiratory disease
bacterial prevalence
dairy heifers
Mycoplasma bovis
Trueperella pyogenes
risk factor
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1605045/full
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