Mycoplasma alkalescens demonstrated in bronchoalveolar lavage of cattle in Denmark

Mycoplasma alkalescens is an arginine-metabolizing mycoplasma, which has been found in association with mastitis and arthritis in cattle. Routine bacteriological examination of 17 bronchoalveolar lavage samples from calves with pneumonia in a single herd in Denmark, identified M. alkalescens in eight samples. The organism was found as a sole bacterilogical findings in five of the samples as well as in combination with Mannheimia haemolytica, Haemophilus somni and Salmonella Dublin. This is the first report of isolation of M. alkalescens in Denmark

Time is of essence; rapid identification of veterinary pathogens using MALDI TOF

Rapid and accurate identification of microbial pathogens is a cornerstone for timely and correct treatment of diseases of livestock and fish. The utility of the MALDI-TOF technique in the diagnostic laboratory is directly related to the quality of mass spectra and quantity of different microbial species in the database. Since commercial MALDI-TOF spectral database providers mainly focus on human pathogens there is a need for improving the datasets in order to extend the applicability of the technique to the veterinary field. Here we report upgrading of a commercial MALDI-TOF database with the mass spectra of fish and mastitis pathogens as well as pathogens relevant for surveillance of diseases in farm animals and wildlife