A clinical and diagnostic study of Mycoplasma wenyonii and Haemobartonella bovis infections in cattle of Mosul City, Iraq

Eleven local cows (2-6 years old), five calves (1 day–6 months) and two bulls from different farms were admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Mosul, Iraq for evaluation of poor appetite, fever, tachycardia, tachypnea, exhaustion, udder edema and anemia. Blood smear examination revealed an infection with coccoid shaped Mycoplasma wenyonii, seen on the surface of erythrocytes in the numbers ranging from 1 to 50, and large numbers in the background of blood smears. A few chain-shaped Haemobartonella bovis on the periphery of erythrocytes were also detected. Hematological examination of all infected animals showed a decrease in Hb, Hct, RBCs and platelates count, with significant increase of WBC counts, neutropenia, lymphopenia and monocytosis. The treated animals were recovered within three days following intramuscular injection of Imidocarb dipropionate (4 mg/kg body weight). This study reports the presence of clinical infections with M. wenyonii and Haemobartonella bovis, for the first time in Iraq and may form the basis in further studies.