ANTIBODIES AGAINST MYCOPLASMA BOVIGENITALIUM IN FREE-LIVING EUROPEAN BISON (BISON BONASUS) WITH BALANOPOSTHITIS

Abstract

Since 1980 severe chronic balanoposthitis has been observed in free-living European bison (Bison bonasus) in the Białowieza Primeval Forest (Poland). Sera of 50 bison with balanoposthitis and 48 clinically healthy male and 49 female bison were investigated for antibodies against Mycoplasma bovis and M. bovigenitalium by western blot analysis. Prevalence of antibodies against M. bovigenitalium was significantly higher in bison with balanoposthitis than in unaffected male bison. Mycoplasma bovigenitalium may play a role in the pathogenesis of balanoposthitis in European bison.