Caprine mycoplasmosis: immune response in goats to Mycoplasma putrefaciens after intramammary inoculation

The primary inoculation of various doses of Mycoplasma putrefaciens into the udders of goats was followed by acute agalactia in the inoculated udder half, without involvement of the noninoculated half. Milk production either stopped or was severely curtailed in the affected half. Significant resistance to challenge exposure was demonstrable for periods up to 1 year in previously infected udders. Subsequent challenge exposures resulted in a benign pattern of disease that lasted a short period, with few organisms appearing in the milk secretions and no effect on milk yield.