Investigation of Mycoplasma agalactiae by bacteriological and molecular methods in sheep and goats in the Marmara region

The aim of this study was diagnosis of main agent 'Mycoplasma agalactiae (Ma)' of Contagious Agalactia by bacteriological and molecular methods from sheep and goats in Marmara Region.A total of 339 samples from 162 milk samples,147 eye swabs, 15 joint fluids, 11 nasal swabs and 4 lung tissue samples was examined by culture and molecular methods for sheep and goats in Bursa, Balıkesir, Çanakkale and Edirne provinces. The 339 samples were collected from 190 adult female goats, 57 ewes, 19 young female goats, 6 male goats, 27 lambs and 6 rams. Among 29 (8.5%) Mycoplasma sp. isolates; 25 (86.20%) were identified as Mycoplasma agalactiae, 2 (6.89%) as Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae and 2 (6.89%) as Mycoplasma arginini.In molecular diagnosis, the 234 samples were analysed using PCR protocols which uvrC gene PCR results could be detected Mycoplasma agalactiae positive with 9.4 % rate. On the other hand, polC gene-PCR detected 13.24% rate. The samples were analysed by uvrC-PCR and detected Mycoplasma agalactiae positive with 15.74% rate of milk samples, 6.66% rate of joint fluids and 25% rate of lung tissue samples in goats. The result of polC-PCR detected Mycoplasma agalactiae positive with 22.04% rate of milk samples, 6.66% rate of joint fluids, 1.20% rate of eye swabs and 25% rate of lung tissue samples in goats. When compared between bacteriological examination and PCR, M.agalactiae was detected by 10.68% rate. As a result of this, 7 milk samples and 2 eye swabs were detected positive by polC-PCR while negative by bacteriological examination and uvrC –PCR. As a result of this polC-PCR protocol was to high rate (13.24%) of detection of Mycoplasma agalactiae when it was compared to uvrC-PCR protocol.In conclusion, presence of Contagious Agalactia in Marmara region was investigated by bacteriological and molecular methods and Mycoplasma agalactiae was diagnosed as primary cause of Contagious Agalactia.