An investigation of the pathology of mycoplasma mastitis in the cow.

A field case of mastitis in cows, caused by Mycoplasma agalactiae var. bovis, formed the occasion to conduct an infection experiment. Five lactating heifers were infected in the udder at different times. The cows were slaughtered 2, 5, 7, 9 and 12 days p.i. and the pathological changes were studied. The investigation indicated that the pathological picture differed with time: in the acute stage, the inflammation was characterized by exudation of mostly eosinophils in the alveoli; later on, the mastitis was identified by an interstitial reaction with eosinophils and mononuclear cells, including plasma cells and lymphocytes; in the chronic stage, progressive fibroplasia around ductuli and alveoli, with hypertrophy of alveolar epithelium, was characteristic. The pathological findings are discussed.