Antibiotic resistance and the mechanisms of its development in the case of Mycoplasma bovis infection in cattle

Mycoplasma bovis is the smallest known bacterium that does not have a cell wall. It is therefore resistant to some antibiotics that inhibit the synthesis of the cell structure. Little is known about the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in M. bovis, since it has no plasmids and there are insufficient data about the role of the biofilm formation by these bacteria. Previous studies have shown that the development of antibiotic resistance is due to gene mutations. Antibiotics generally considered as effective against M. bovis infection are macrolides, fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, lincosamides, aminoglycosides, and chloramphenicol. Several recent studies, however, indicate that the efficacy of tetracyclines, macrolides, and lincosamides has diminished. Increased resistance to erythromycin, spectinomycin, and tilmicosin, antibiotics commonly used in the treatment of M. bovis infections, has also been reported. Among field strains of M. bovis no resistance or rare resistance has only been observed for enrofloxacin, florfenicol, tylosin, and tulathromycin. Considering the rapidly growing antibiotic resistance of the isolated strains of M. bovis, it is necessary to search for alternative compounds that could effectively inhibit these bacteria.