Mastitis caused by Mycoplasma species is highly contagious and causes serious disease and economic loss, especially in large dairy herds. - Herd prevalence has increased over the past decade, and this increase parallels the increase in average dairy herd size. - Outbreaks mostly originate from introduction of infected cows to a farm and poor hygienic practices that help to maintain cow to cow transmission. - Mycoplasma transmits at milking time from an infected cow to an uninfected cow via fomites, hands of a milker, milking unit liners, or udder wash cloths. - Mycoplasma spp. are frequently resistant to antibiotic treatment, and can result in chronic and subclinical states of infection

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