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.

Introduction: Mycoplasma bovis is one of the main pathogens involved in cattle pneumonia. Other mycoplasmas have also been directly implicated in respiratory diseases in cattle. The prevalence of different Mycoplasma spp. in cattle affected by respiratory diseases and molecular characteristics of M. bovis field strains were evaluated. Material and Methods: In total, 713 nasal swabs from 73 cattle herds were tested. The uvrC gene fragment was amplified by PCR and PCR products were sequenced. PCR/DGGE and RAPD were performed. Results: It was found that 39 (5.5%) samples were positive for M. bovis in the PCR and six field strains had point nucleotide mutations. Additionally, the phylogenetic analysis of 20 M. bovis field strains tested with RAPD showed two distinct groups of M. bovis strains sharing only 3.8% similarity. PCR/DGGE analysis demonstrated the presence of bacteria belonging to the Mollicutes class in 79.1% of DNA isolates. The isolates were identified as: Mycoplasma bovirhinis, M. dispar, M. bovis, M. canis, M. arginini, M. canadense, M. bovoculi, M. alkalescens, and Ureaplasma diversum. Conclusion: Different Mycoplasma spp. strains play a crucial role in inducing respiratory diseases in cattle.

Introduction: The current study was designed to detect Mycoplasma agalactiae (Ma), Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri (Mmc), Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum (Mcc) and Mycoplasma putrefaciens (Mp) in sheep and goats with clinical signs consistent with contagious agalactia.

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.

Introduction: Mycoplasma bovis is one of the main pathogens involved in cattle pneumonia. Other mycoplasmas have also been directly implicated in respiratory diseases in cattle. The prevalence of different Mycoplasma spp. in cattle affected by respiratory diseases and molecular characteristics of M. bovis field strains were evaluated. Material and Methods: In total, 713 nasal swabs from 73 cattle herds were tested. The uvrC gene fragment was amplified by PCR and PCR products were sequenced. PCR/DGGE and RAPD were performed. Results: It was found that 39 (5.5%) samples were positive for M. bovis in the PCR and six field strains had point nucleotide mutations. Additionally, the phylogenetic analysis of 20 M. bovis field strains tested with RAPD showed two distinct groups of M. bovis strains sharing only 3.8% similarity. PCR/DGGE analysis demonstrated the presence of bacteria belonging to the Mollicutes class in 79.1% of DNA isolates. The isolates were identified as: Mycoplasma bovirhinis, M. dispar, M. bovis, M. canis, M. arginini, M. canadense, M. bovoculi, M. alkalescens, and Ureaplasma diversum. Conclusion: Different Mycoplasma spp. strains play a crucial role in inducing respiratory diseases in cattle.

Introduction: The current study was designed to detect Mycoplasma agalactiae (Ma), Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri (Mmc), Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum (Mcc) and Mycoplasma putrefaciens (Mp) in sheep and goats with clinical signs consistent with contagious agalactia.Material and Methods: A total of 299 samples were collected from 55 mixed herds in Azarbaijan-e-Sharghi province, Iran. Samples were examined using PCR and culture methods.Results: The findings showed that in 40 herds at least one sample was positive by PCR or culture method. Moreover, out of 274 sheep samples, 101 were proved to be positive using the PCR technique and 76 were found positive using the culture method. Out of 25 goat samples, 10 were found positive using PCR and 9 were positive through the culture method. Less than 20% of isolated mycoplasmas were Ma. Ma was detected from almost all studied regions in the province while Mmc, Mcc, and Mp were detected only in a very limited area that was deemed by the research group the mixed infection zone.Conclusion: In vaccination or eradication projects, it would be more economical to focus on mixed infection zones. Further investigation on mixed infection zones could facilitate better understanding of contagious agalactia epidemiology.

Objective: This study was carried out to assess the pathogenicity of local isolates of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae and M. arginini in West African dwarf goats (kids) in Nigeria. Materials and methods: A total of 22 goats aged less than 1-year were purchased from markets. The goats were divided into six groups comprising of four experimental groups (EG; 4 in each) and two control groups (CG; 3 in each). The goats were fed ad libitum with standard diets and safe water. Groups EG1 and EG2 were infected with M. ovipneumoniae through trans-tracheal (TT) and intravenous (IV) routes, respectively, while those in groups EG3 and EG4 were infected with M. arginini through the same routes. Goats in groups CG1 and CG2 were inoculated with sterile Mycoplasma broth through TT and IV routes, respectively. In all cases, the amount of bacteria inoculated was 1.5x108 cells/mL. After the onset of the disease in goats, re-isolation of Mycoplasma was performed by culturing on mycoplasma agar supplemented with mycoplasma supplement G. The goats were monitored for 14 days post-infection (PI) to observe respiratory signs and mortality. Post-mortem (PM) examination was performed on each animal that died, while one surviving goat from each of the groups was sacrificed at 14 days PI for PM. After PM, histopathology was performed to observe the changes in tissues. Results: Cough and nasal discharges were observed in all the experimentally infected goats seven days PI. Mortalities were recorded in goats in EG1 (two goats), EG2 (one goats), EG3 (two goats) and EG4 (one goat). At PM, pneumonic lesions were observed in the lungs of all the experimentally infected goats. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that the local isolates of M. ovipneumoniae and M. arginini strains are pathogenic for goats in Nigeria. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2016; 3(3.000): 242-251]

A multiplex PCR was developed for the simultaneous detection and differentiation of Mycoplasma (M.) hyopneumoniae and M. hyorhinis in clinical samples. Improved sensitivity is advantage of this technique over the previously reported multiplex assay. It was capable of detecting as little as 125 fg genomic DNA from M. hyopneumoniae and 62.5 fg genomic DNA from M. hyorhinis. Application of this multiplex PCR method to field isolates showed that M. hyopneumoniae and M. hyorhinis were present in 29% (107 of 370) of lung specimens and no mycoplasmas were detected in 56% (208 of 370) of the slaughtered pigs' lungs. At the farm level, M. hyopneumoniae and M. hyorhinis were detected in 34 of 36 (94.4%) randomly selected farms. We conclude that this assay would prove itself a value tool for monitoring these mycoplasmal infections and both M. hyopneumoniae and M. hyorhinis have been widely spread in swine herds of Korea.

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.