ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MYCOPLASMA AND ACHOLEPLASMA FROM PNEUMONIC LUNGS OF GOATS SLAUGHTERED AT FAISALABAD ABATTOIR 0
Among the goats slaughtered at Faisalabad abattoir, pneumonic lungs were collected from 50 animals suspected for contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP). These samples were subjected to bacteriological studies and 8 isolates were recovered. On the basis of morphological, biochemical a 1d serological characteristics, these were identified as Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies capri (4), acholeplasmas (2) and unidentified mycoplasmas (2).
Mycoplasmas isolated from goats and sheep with pleuropneumonia in Saudi Arabia
SummaryPleuropneumonia of goats and sheep has been known to cause serious economic losses in many countries including Saudi Arabia. A preliminary investigation was carried out on 163 goats and 130 sheep which showed clinical symptoms or post-mortem lesions of pleuropneumonia. Pathological samples from the respiratory tract of live or slaughtered goats and sheep (183 and 160 samples respectively) were cultured for mycoplasmas. Of 343 mycoplasma cultures examined 211 (61·5%) isolates were characterised biochemically. A total of 116 isolates were serologically identified asM. mycoides subsp.mycoides, M. ovipneumonia, M. conjunctivae, M. agalactiae subsp.agalactiae, M. putrifaciens andM. arginini. The remaining mycoplasma isolates were not identified. The significance of the identified isolates and their probable pathogenic effect on the respiratory tract of goats and sheep are discussed. Their pathogenicity needs to be established experimentally before initiating a control programme in the Kingdom.RésuméOn sait que la pleuropneumonie du mouton et de la chèvre cause de sérieuses pertes économiques dans beaucoup de pays, dont l'Arabie Saoudite. Une recherche préliminaire a été entreprise sur 163 chèvres et 130 moutons montrant des symptômes cliniques ou des lésions à l'autopsie. Des prélèvements du tractus respiratoire de chèvres et de moutons vivants ou abattus (respectivement 183 et 160 échantillons) ont été mis en culture pour la recherche de mycoplasmes. Sur les 343 cultures de mycoplasmes examinées, 211 souches (soit 61,5%) ont été caractérisées au point de vue biochimique. 116 souches ont pu être identifiées sérologiquement comme étantM. mycoides sub.mycoides, M. ovipneumoniae, M. conjunctivae, M. agalactiae sub.agalactiae, M. putrefaciens etM. arginini. Les autres souches de mycoplasmes n'ont pas été identifiées. La signification des souches identifiées et leur effet pathogène probable sur le tractus respiratoire des chèvres et des moutons sont discutés. Leur pouvoir pathogène demande à être expérimentalement établi avant de mettre en place un programme de contrôle de la maladie dans le Royaume.ResumenSe llevó a cabo una investigación preliminar en 163 cabras y 130 ovejas las cuales mostraron síntomas clínicos o lesiones postmortem de pleuroneumonía contagiosa. Se cultivaron en medios especiales muestras patológicas del tracto respiratorio de cabras y ovejas vivas (183 y 160 muestras respectivamente. De 343 cultivos examinados, 211 (61·5%) aislamientos se caracterizaron bioquímicamente. Un total de 116 aislamientos se caracterizaron serológicamente comoM. mycoides, subsp.mycoides, M. ovipneumonia, M. conjuntivae, M. agalactiae subsp.agalactiae, M. putrifaciens yM. arginini. Los restantes micoplasmas aislados no fueron identificados. Se discute el significado de los aislamientos identificados y su posible efecto patógeno en el tracto respiratorio de cabras y ovejas. Es necesario establecer la patogenicidad experimentalmente antes de iniciar un programa de control en el Reino.
Pathogenicity of the subspecies mycoides of Mycoplasma mycoides for cattle, sheep and goats.
Recent work has shown that strains classified as M. mycoides subsp. mycoides may be separated into 2 types according to their growth rate and their behaviour in certain biochemical tests. The large colony (LC) types, most of which are from goats, are pathogenic for sheep and goats but apparently not for cattle. The small colony (SC) types include the classical contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) strains from cattle and four strains from goats. These SC types are potentially pathogenic for cattle, sheep and goats. Strains of M. mycoides subsp. mycoides from CBPP differ in their virulence in cattle. The degree of virulence is correlated with the quantity of galactan produced in cultures of the organism, suggesting an important role for galactan in pathogenicity. This is consistent with the production by galactan of physiological effects in calves and in the enhancement of infection in cattle given galactan at the same time as cultures of the organism. Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) can be produced experimentally in goats using cultures of M. mycoides subsp. capri. Whether the glucan produced in such cultures is a factor in pathogenicity of this organism has not been determined. Hydrogen peroxide demonstrated in tracheal organ cultures of M. mycoides subsp. capri may contribute to its pathogenicity.