The ability of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae to agglutinate RBC was evaluated to develop an in vitro cytadsorption assay. Using swine RBC in a microtitration hemagglutination test, no agglutination or partial agglutination was detected. Comparison of RBC from various other species indicated that improved hemagglutination was obtained with RBC from turkeys. This hemagglutination was detected only when mycoplasma cells used in the assay had been frozen and thawed, heated at 50 C for 30 minutes, or treated with trypsin. Treatment of RBC with trypsin or neuraminidase enhanced hemagglutination. Possible surface lectin activity in M hyopneumoniae was evaluated by use of carbohydrates in a blocking assay; hemagglutination was not inhibited by any of 13 carbohydrates evaluated. Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae convalescent porcine serum and monoclonal antibodies against 2 M hyopneumoniae immunogens of molecular weights of 64,000 and 41,000 inhibited hemagglutination.

A two-year old lioness (Panthero leo) was referred to our clinic with nasal and oral bleeding, vomiting and anemia. As being informed by the owner; we learned that the lion had a history of anorexia, nasal discharge, fatigue, dehydration and apathy just one month prior to admitting the clinic. At the laboratory examination Urea, Creatinine and RBC (red blood cell) were higher than normal. Coronavirus, Feline Leukemia Virus, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (Rapid FIV/Ab FeLV Ag Test Kit, Bionote®) agents were checked with commercial immunochromatographic rapid test kit and found as negative. Heamobartonella sp was found by blood smear. Enrofloxacin (Baytril-K % 5, Bayer®) 10 mg/kg dose for 10 days once a day and vitamin K and supportive fluid were given for treatment. All clinical signs and abnormal blood values returned to normal levels after 17 days. This report indicated that Heamobartonella sp is important agent also for wild cats and all cats should be controlled for this to infection even if suffered from renal failure.

A total of 165 cows, 19 buffaloes, 192 sheep and 118 goats were examined for detection of Mycoplasma mastitis. The results revealed that 114 (69.59%) and 6 (31.57%) were clinically mastitic cows and buffaloes respectively while 51 (30.9%) and 13 (68.42%) were apparently healthy cows and buffaloes respectively. On examining the apparently healthy cows and buffaloes, 67 (32.84%) and 18 (34.61%) were subclinically mastitic cows and buffaloes respectively. Mycoplasmas were isolated in percentages of 8.9%, 5.5% from subclinically mastitic cows and buffaloes respectively and in percentages of 12.97%, 12.5% from clinically mastitic cows and buffaloes respectively. M. bovis was isolated from 8 (32%) and M. bovigenitalium from 7 (28%) and 10 (40%) unidentified Mycoplasma. Isolation of Mycoplasma from udder tissue in cows and buffaloes were in a percentage of 28.5% in cows while no Mycoplasma isolates were obtained from buffaloes' udder tissues. Application of PCR technique on these isolates and some of the negative samples was positive 100%. On the other hand, the results revealed that 82 of 192 (42.7%) and 43 of 118 (36.44) of the examined sheep and goats respectively were clinically mastitic. Isolation of Mycoplasma was from 11 (13.41%) and 17 (39.53%) of the examined sheep and goat respectively. Identification of these isolates revealed 8 (29%) M. agalactiae isolates and 20 (71%) unidentified Mycoplasma spp. Application of PCR technique on traditionally identified M. agalactiae isolates revealed negative results on using M. agalactiae specific primer while positive results were obtained for the same 8 isolates (100%) on using M. bovis specific primer.

To differentiate Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, the cause of mycoplasmal pneumonia in pigs, from M flocculare and M hyorbinis, an assay, using the polymerase chain reaction to amplify a segment of the 16S rRNA gene sequence, was developed. The assay was found to be useful for identification of field isolates, as well as for identification of laboratory-adapted strains. Amplification of DNA from M hyopneumoniae and M flocculare resulted in products of 200 and 400 base pairs, respectively. The DNA from M hyorbinis was not amplified. The assay was sensitive enough to detect as little as 1,000 genome equivalents of M hyopneumoniae and M flocculare DNA. Sensitivity was increased 100-fold by increasing the concentration of magnesium ion in the reaction buffer from 2 to 4 mM; however, DNA from M hyorbinis was also amplified under these conditions. The DNA from several walled bacteria and from other mycoplasmas was also tested, but none of these DNA samples was amplified, suggesting that the assay was specific for porcine mycoplasmas.

The prevalence of mycoplasmal and ureaplasmal recovery from tracheobronchial lavage specimens and prevalence of mycoplasmal recovery from pharyngeal swab specimens from cats with (28) or without (18) pulmonary disease were determined. Mycoplasmas were recovered from tracheobronchial lavage specimens in 21% of cats with pulmonary disease, but in no cats without pulmonary disease; this difference is significant (P = 0.04). Mycoplasmal recovery from tracheobronchial lavage specimens was not significantly associated with concurrent Pasteurella spp isolation, septic inflammation, or bronchitis. Ureaplasmas were only isolated from a tracheobronchial lavage specimen in cat with pulmonary disease and in no cats without pulmonary disease. Similar mycoplasmal recovery rates were found for pharyngeal swab specimens from cats with (39%) or without (35%) pulmonary disease. Seemingly, mycoplasmas are part of the normal pharyngeal flora in approximately a third of the feline population, but mycoplasmas are not normal inhabitants of the lower respiratory tract in cats. It is unknown whether mycoplasmas isolated from tracheobronchial lavage specimens in cats with pulmonary disease are primary pathogens or opportunistic invaders. Seemingly, ureaplasmas are seldom associated with pulmonary disease in cats, and are not normal inhabitants of the trachea and bronchi of cats.