Mycoplasma ovis infection in domestic sheep (Ovis aries) in the United States: Prevalence, distribution, associated risk factors, and associated outcomes

Mycoplasma ovis is a hemotropic bacterium reported to infect sheep, goats, and deer species. Infection in these species can result in anemia, jaundice, and ill-thrift. Although of worldwide distribution, only rare reports of this bacterium in the United States exist. The objectives of this retrospective study were to identify the prevalence and distribution of M. ovis, and identify associated demographic and management risk factors, and reproductive and production outcomes associated with infection on domestic sheep (Ovis aries) operations in the United States. As part of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services' National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) Sheep 2001 and 2011 studies, blood was collected and sera banked from 21,369 ewes in 2001 and 13,128 ewes in 2011. Participating premises were located in 22 states across the United States for each sample year. In 2015 the USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Animal Disease Research Unit received aliquots of these sera, and DNA was extracted and analyzed by PCR for the presence of M. ovis genomic DNA. Flock presence and mean within-flock prevalence of M. ovis were 73.3% and 23.2%, respectively. Model selection using Mallow's C_p Criterion was used to determine which variables significantly affected flock presence and within-flock prevalence. The final flock presence model included flock size, year of blood collection, region, and vaccine administration. The final within-flock prevalence model included year of blood collection, interaction between flock size and region, and interaction between reported abortions and grazing with sheep from other operations. Medium and large operations had a higher flock presence and within-flock prevalence. Flock presence was higher in operations that administered any vaccines. Operations that reported any abortions and grazed with sheep from other operations had a higher within-flock prevalence.