Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 October 2014
80. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has information on the prevalence of mycoplasma bovis in Irish farms; the strategies which his Department is promoting to contain this disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38350/14]
View answerMycoplasma bovis is one of a range of micro-organisms that cause respiratory disease in calves and older cattle in Ireland as elsewhere. For example, Mycoplasma bovis was detected in 6% of cases of respiratory disease presented for diagnosis by post-mortem examination in 2012*. The Veterinary Laboratories of my Department provide a laboratory diagnostic service, advice and support and collated monthly and annual disease surveillance* information to assist practitioners and herd owners identify the causes of disease in their livestock, in order to apply optimally directed herd health programs in their herds. Less frequently, Mycoplasma bovis can occur as infection in one or more joints (arthritis) or as mastitis. DAFM Laboratories diagnosed a number of cases of arthritis and / or mastitis in dairy cows in nine Irish dairy herds in 2013 and in eight further dairy herds this year. In addition, DAFM Laboratories provided laboratory testing and technical disease control advice and support to private veterinary practitioners and herd owners, who implemented herd health programs specifically to control Mycoplasma bovis mastitis and arthritis in their dairy cows. Most of these programs have been followed by the reduction in occurrence or cessation of new cases of Mycoplasma bovis mastitis and arthritis in each of the affected herds.
*All-Island animal Disease Surveillance Report 2012, http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/animalhealthwelfare/labservice/rvlreportpictures/All%20Island%20Animal%20Disease%20Surveillance%20Report%202012.pdf
