Polymerase chain reaction for detection of Ureaplasma diversum from urogenital swabs in cattle in Australia

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Ureaplasma diversum has been associated with various reproductive problems in cattle, including granular vulvovaginitis, endometritis, salpingitis, early embryonic death, weak calves, decreased conception rates, balanoprosthitis, impaired spermatozoids and seminal vesiculitis in bulls. METHODS: This study briefly outlines the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the rapid detection of U. diversum directly from urogenital swabs collected from Australian beef cattle. RESULTS: The 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences obtained from the PCR products of the clinical samples were closely related to U. diversum strain A417. CONCLUSION: The present test enabled detection of the organism directly from clinical swabs collected from animals with or without lesions.