Antimicrobial susceptibility and molecular characteristics of Mycoplasma bovis isolated from cases of bovine respiratory disease in Australian feedlot cattle

To date, antimicrobial susceptibility has not been reported for Australian Mycoplasma bovis isolates. This study determined minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for 12 different antimicrobials against Australian M. bovis isolates and used whole genome sequencing to screen those showing high macrolide MICs for point mutations in target genes. Most lung tissue/swab samples from bovine respiratory disease cases (61/76, 80.3%) tested positive for M. bovis. A set of 50 representative isolates (50/61, 82.0%) that showed adequate growth, was used for MIC testing. Uniformly, low MIC values were confirmed for enrofloxacin (≤ 4 μg/mL), florfenicol (≤ 8 μg/mL), gamithromycin (≤ 2 μg/mL), spectinomycin (≤ 4 μg/mL), tetracycline (≤ 8 μg/mL), tiamulin (≤ 4 μg/mL), and tulathromycin (≤ 0.5 μg/mL). A small proportion (10%) of isolates exhibited high MICs (≥ 32 μg/mL) for tildipirosin, tilmicosin, tylosin, and lincomycin, which were above the epidemiological cut-off values for each antimicrobial (≥ 4 μg/mL). These isolates, originating from three Australian states, underwent whole genome sequencing/multilocus sequencing typing and were compared with the reference strain PG45 to investigate mutations that might be linked with the high macrolide/lincosamide MICs. All five belonged to ST52 and two macrolide associated mutations were identified within the 23 S rRNA gene (A2058G in two sequenced isolates and G748A in all sequenced isolates). Four additional 23 S rRNA gene mutations did not appear to be linked to macrolide resistance. Whilst the majority of Australian M. bovis isolates appear susceptible to the tested antimicrobials, emerging macrolide resistance was detected in three Australian states and requires continued monitoring.