Experimental Mycoplasma bovis seminal vesiculitis in the bull

Cultures of Mycoplasma bovis were injected into the vesicular glands of bulls in order to determine the pathogenicity of M. bovis in the vesicular gland. In addition M. bovis was administered to bulls by intravenous and intra-articular injection in order to mimic possible natural routes of infection. Direct intravesicular injection of M. bovis resulted in seminal vesiculitis with persistant shedding of mycoplasma in the vesicular gland secretion for up to 81/2 months. Attempts to reproduce vesiculitis by other routes were not successful.