Brian Cowen
Question:532 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will furnish the public statements made by him in relation to the bovine disease mycoplasma bovis in June 1995 and September 1995. [19194/95]
Written Answers. - Mycoplasma Bovis.
The following are the statements issued:
June 1995: "Mycoplasma bovis is a respiratory pathogen and is frequently associated with outbreaks of pneumonia. It is not a notifiable disease and compensation is not payable in its case. The Department advises herdowners who suspect the presence of the disease in their livestock to contact their veterinary surgeon for advice. The Department's veterinary laboratory service is also available to assist veterinary practitioners in dealing with the disease".
September 1995: "The Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Mr. Ivan Yates TD, today referred to the risk of Mycoplasma bovis occurring in cattle, of all ages, particularly calves and dairy cows. Mycoplasma bovis is an important respiratory pathogen and is frequently associated with outbreaks of severe pneumonia in calves. It also causes affected cows to develop a crippling arthritis affecting one, or more, joints in front and/or hind legs. The joints become swollen and the cows become very lame. The infections are resistant to treatment and the swelling and lameness persist. In dairy herds, the disease may be associated with a marked fall in milk production and an acute rapidly spreading mastitis which is resistant to treatment. Major losses arise from lost production, purchase of veterinary medicines, culling of severely affected incurable cows and deaths in calves.
Outbreaks of pneumonia, mastitis and arthritis in cattle have been associated with the importation of cattle in which Mycoplasma bovis has been isolated. Herdowners are therefore advised to check carefully the source of their imported cattle before taking the decision to import. Adverting to the Protocol for safer importation of cattle, sheep and goats, which he launched recently, the Minister said that risks could be considerably reduced if individual animals to be imported are certified as being negative to the complement-fixation test (CFT) or an approved ELISA test for Mycoplasma bovis.
Because the level of Mycoplasma bovis infection in this country is extremely low, Irish cattle have little immunity to the disease. Consequently, farmers are strongly advised to delay integration of any imported animals into their herd for as long as possible: a minimum of 30 days is recommended. This may allow animals which are incubating infection to show clinical signs. However, some `carrier' cattle remain a source of infection for months without developing any signs. If any farmer suspects that cattle have the symptoms associated with Mycoplasma bovis he should contact his veterinary surgeon immediately for advice".