A Review of Ureaplasma diversum: A Representative of the Mollicute Class Associated With Reproductive and Respiratory Disorders in Cattle

Abstract

The Mollicutes class encompasses wall-less microbes with a reduced genome. They may infect plants, insects, humans, and animals including those on farms and in livestock. Ureaplasma diversum is a mollicute associated with decreased reproduction mainly in the conception rate in cattle, as well as weight loss and decreased quality in milk production. Therefore, U. diversum infection contributes to important economic losses, mainly in large cattle-producing countries such as the United States, China, Brazil, and India. The characteristics of Mollicutes, virulence, and pathogenic variations make it difficult to control their infections. Genomic analysis, prevalence studies, and immunomodulation assays help better understand the pathogenesis of bovine ureaplasma. Here we present the main features of transmission, virulence, immune response, and pathogenesis of U. diversum in bovines.

What about the bull? A systematic review about the role of males in bovine infectious infertility within cattle herds

“…* * 2.6 No bacteria (no cell wall) Mycoplasma suis * * 2.6 No bacteria (no cell wall) Mycoplasma wenyonii * * 2.6 No bacteria (no cell wall) Mycoplasma bovis * NB, AI* ( Dudek et al., 2020 ) 2.6 No bacteria (no cell wall) Ureaplasma spp. 10.5 Yes** bacteria (no cell wall) Ureaplasma diversum The bacteria can infect the testicles where it negatively affects sperm quality through morphological and functional changes of the sperm ( Santos Junior et al., 2021 ). NB, AI ( Givens, 2018 ) 7.9 No bacteria (no cell wall) Besnoitia besnoiti The parasite can produce severe alterations in the reproductive tract, causing permanent infertility ( Cortes et al., 2005 ).…”

“…were also identified (10.5% of the publications), in which U. diversum was the only described species (identified in 7.9% of the publications) able to adversely affect the fertility of males ( Buzinhani et al., 2011 ; Hobson et al., 2013 ). Infections in bulls can induce seminal vesiculitis, balanoposthitis, epididymitis, and other pathologies caused by morphological and functional changes in sperm ( Santos Junior et al., 2021 ). Other bacteria are also identified in our ranking list in a lower percentage of papers (summarized in Table 2 ).…”

Detection of Ureaplasma diversum in the upper airways of Australian feedlot cattle

“…Ureaplasma diversum is a known bovine pathogen and has been implicated in bovine reproductive disorders, including infertility, endometriosis and abortion 6 . Similar to other BRD‐associated agents, U. diversum is a commensal of the bovine upper respiratory tract 7 and has recently been identified as an opportunistic pathogen that induces a strong inflammatory response 8 . Recently, U. diversum has also been isolated from the lower respiratory tract of calves with recurring BRD in Belgium 9 and was identified as the causal agent in acute outbreaks of respiratory disease in cattle in Finland 10 .…”

“…The significant difference in the prevalence of U. diversum between cohorts indicates that U. diversum may be behaving similarly to M. bovis , particularly in compromised animals in the hospital system 11 . As U. diversum and M. bovis belong to the same Class, Mollicutes, 8 it is hypothesised that like M. bovis , 14 U. diversum may be evading immunological clearance by establishing in the tonsillar crypts of other protected niches in the respiratory tract.…”

“…6 Similar to other BRD-associated agents, U. diversum is a commensal of the bovine upper respiratory tract 7 and has recently been identified as an opportunistic pathogen that induces a strong inflammatory response. 8 Recently, U. diversum has also been isolated from the lower respiratory tract of calves with recurring BRD in Belgium 9 and was identified as the causal agent in acute outbreaks of respiratory disease in cattle in Finland. 10 Together, this evidence suggests an emerging role for U. diversum in BRD worldwide.…”