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Abstract
The economic costs of contagious agalactia (CA) to the small ruminant dairy industry are not well known but include losses due to mortality, lowered milk production, spoiled products, abortions and animal welfare problems, as well as diagnosis and treatment. This paper reports financial estimates made in southern Europe, including a study on small- and large-scale farming systems in Italy, indicating that the financial losses are high and underestimated. Furthermore, the current control strategies, including chemotherapy and vaccination, in selected countries in Europe are described. In some countries, disease control is hampered by excessively strict veterinary legislation which discourages farmers and private veterinarians from notifying outbreaks because it leads to the prohibition of milk sales and can result in delays in lifting restrictions. In addition, new European Union legislation may downgrade the importance of CA, which will have implications for international research efforts. Finally, a series of recommendations are provided that cover the proper notification and handling of CA outbreaks, including movement control, current diagnostics, treatment, vaccination and disinfection.
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Vega-Orellana O, Poveda JB, Rosales RS, Bradbury JM, Poveda CG, Mederos-Iriarte LE, Tavío MM, Ramírez AS. Comparison of different NAT assays for the detection of microorganisms belonging to the class Mollicutes. BMC Vet Res 2017; 13:195. [PMID: 28646859 PMCID: PMC5483278 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-017-1116-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2016] [Accepted: 06/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mollicutes detection can be cumbersome due to their slow growth in vitro. For this reason, the use of DNA based on generic molecular tests represents an alternative for rapid, sensitive and specific detection of these microorganism. For this reason, six previously described nucleic acid testing assays were compared to evaluate their ability to detect microorganisms belonging to the class Mollicutes. METHODS A panel of 61 mollicutes, including representatives from the Mycoplasma, Acholeplasma, Mesoplasma, Spiroplasma and Ureaplasma genus, were selected to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of these assays. A total of 21 non-mollicutes, including closely related non-mollicutes species, were used to evaluate specificity. Limits of detection were calculated to determine the analytical sensitivity of the assays. The two best performing assays were subsequently adapted into real-time PCR format, followed by melting curve analysis. RESULTS Both assays performed satisfactorily, with a 100% specificity described for both assays. The detection limits were found to be between 10-4 and 10-5 dilutions, equivalent to 15 to 150 genome copies approximately. Based on our work, both van Kuppeveld and Botes real-time PCR assays were found to be the best performing tests in terms of sensitivity and specificity. Furthermore, Botes real-time PCR assay could detect phytoplasmas as well. CONCLUSIONS These assays can be very useful for the rapid, specific and sensitive screening cell line contaminants, clinical samples as well as detecting non-culturable, unknown species of mollicutes or mollicutes whose growth is slow or difficult.
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Affiliation(s)
- O. Vega-Orellana
- Unidad de Epidemiología y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, C/Trasmontaña s/n, 35413 Arucas, Gran Canaria Spain
| | - J. B. Poveda
- Unidad de Epidemiología y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, C/Trasmontaña s/n, 35413 Arucas, Gran Canaria Spain
| | - R. S. Rosales
- Unidad de Epidemiología y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, C/Trasmontaña s/n, 35413 Arucas, Gran Canaria Spain
| | - J. M. Bradbury
- University of Liverpool, School of Veterinary Science, Leahurst Campus, Neston, CH64 7TE UK
| | - C. G. Poveda
- Unidad de Epidemiología y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, C/Trasmontaña s/n, 35413 Arucas, Gran Canaria Spain
| | - L. E. Mederos-Iriarte
- Unidad de Epidemiología y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, C/Trasmontaña s/n, 35413 Arucas, Gran Canaria Spain
| | - M. M. Tavío
- Unidad de Epidemiología y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, C/Trasmontaña s/n, 35413 Arucas, Gran Canaria Spain
- Microbiología, Departamento de Ciencias Clínicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - A. S. Ramírez
- Unidad de Epidemiología y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, C/Trasmontaña s/n, 35413 Arucas, Gran Canaria Spain
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Bahir W, Omar O, Rosales RS, Hlusek M, Ziay G, Schauwers W, Whatmore AM, Nicholas RAJ. Search for OIE-listed ruminant mycoplasma diseases in Afghanistan. BMC Vet Res 2017; 13:149. [PMID: 28558768 PMCID: PMC5450338 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-017-1067-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2016] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about the occurrence of important diseases of ruminants in Afghanistan because of the conflict affecting the country over the last 40 years. To address this discrepancy, ruminant herds in Afghanistan were screened for OIE-listed mycoplasma diseases, contagious bovine (CBPP) and caprine pleuropneumonias (CCPP). RESULTS Of the 825 samples from 24 provinces tested for serological evidence of CBPP caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subsp.mycoides, 20 (3.4%) had ELISA values greater than the positive threshold of 50% though all were less than 55%. Repeat testing of these suspect sera gave values below 50. A smaller number of sera (330) from cattle in nine provinces were also tested by the rapid latex agglutination test (LAT) for CBPP, 10 of which were considered suspect. However, no positive bands were seen when immunoblotting was carried out on all sera that gave suspect results. Serological evidence of Mycoplasma bovis was detected in half of 28 herds in eight provinces. The cause of CCPP, M. capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae was not detected in any of the 107 nasal swabs and lung tissue collected from goats in seven provinces though sample handling and storage were not optimal. However, strong serological evidence was detected in goat herds in several villages near Kabul some of which were over 50% seropositive by LAT and ELISAs for CCPP; immunoblotting confirmed positive results on a selection of these sera. CONCLUSIONS The data presented here provide a first assessment of the occurrence of the two OIE listed mycoplasma diseases in Afghanistan. From the results of the testing bovine sera from the majority of provinces there is no evidence of the presence of CBPP in Afghanistan. However the samples tested represented only 0.03% of the cattle population so a larger survey is required to confirm these findings. Serological, but not bacterial, evidence was produced during this investigation to show that CCPP is highly likely to be present in parts of Afghanistan.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Bahir
- Central Veterinary and Diagnostic Research Laboratories, Kabul, Afghanistan
| | - O Omar
- Central Veterinary and Diagnostic Research Laboratories, Kabul, Afghanistan
| | - R S Rosales
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - M Hlusek
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - G Ziay
- Central Veterinary and Diagnostic Research Laboratories, Kabul, Afghanistan
| | - W Schauwers
- Landell Mills, Trowbridge, Wilts, BA14 8HE, UK
| | - A M Whatmore
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - R A J Nicholas
- Consultant, The Oaks, Nutshell Lane, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 0HG, UK.
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Affiliation(s)
- R S Rosales
- Unit for Hand & Microsurgery, GECOT, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
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Affiliation(s)
- R. S. Rosales
- Unit for Hand & Microsurgery, GECOT, Maria del Cristo Ossuna, Tenerife, Spain and Departments of Clinical Sciences Lund University, Lund, and Orthopedics Hässleholm-Kristianstad, Hässleholm Hospital, Hässleholm, Sweden
| | - I. Atroshi
- Unit for Hand & Microsurgery, GECOT, Maria del Cristo Ossuna, Tenerife, Spain and Departments of Clinical Sciences Lund University, Lund, and Orthopedics Hässleholm-Kristianstad, Hässleholm Hospital, Hässleholm, Sweden
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Suárez-Pérez A, Ramírez AS, Rosales RS, Calabuig P, Poveda C, Rosselló-Móra R, Nicholas RAJ, Poveda JB. Mycoplasma neophronis sp. nov., isolated from the upper respiratory tract of Canarian Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus majorensis). Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2012; 62:1321-1325. [DOI: 10.1099/ijs.0.033803-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Six strains with the typical characteristics of mycoplasmas were isolated from the tracheae of six Canarian Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus majorensis). The results of biochemical, serological and molecular genetic studies showed that the isolates were nearly identical and that they could be considered as representing a novel species of the genus
Mycoplasma
. Colonies possessed the typical fried-egg appearance and electron micrographs revealed a pleomorphic cellular morphology with the lack of a cell wall. The isolates hydrolysed arginine and required sterol for growth but did not ferment glucose or hydrolyse urea. We propose that the isolates be assigned to a novel species,Mycoplasma neophronis sp. nov. The type strain is G.A.T ( = DSM 24097T = ATCC BAA-2157T). The antiserum of strain G.A.T has been deposited in the
Mollicutes
collection at Purdue University (Indiana, USA).
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Suárez-Pérez
- Unidad de Epidemiología y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Veterinaria de la Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - A. S. Ramírez
- Unidad de Epidemiología y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Veterinaria de la Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - R. S. Rosales
- Mycoplasma Group, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Weybridge), Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
| | - P. Calabuig
- Centro de Recuperación de Fauna Silvestre, Cabildo de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - C. Poveda
- Unidad de Epidemiología y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Veterinaria de la Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - R. Rosselló-Móra
- Institut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats (CSIC-UIB), 07190 Esporles, Spain
| | - R. A. J. Nicholas
- Mycoplasma Group, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Weybridge), Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
| | - J. B. Poveda
- Unidad de Epidemiología y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Veterinaria de la Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
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Rosales RS, Diez de la Lastra I, McCabe S, Ortega Martinez JI, Hidalgo YM. The relative responsiveness and construct validity of the Spanish version of the DASH instrument for outcomes assessment in open carpal tunnel release. J Hand Surg Eur Vol 2009; 34:72-5. [PMID: 19091735 DOI: 10.1177/1753193408094156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the responsiveness and construct validity of the Spanish version of the DASH as outcome measure for carpal tunnel surgery. The study population was 42 patients with the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) based on clinical and electrophysiological criteria. The clinical design was a classic Cohort study with measures the day before and 12 weeks after open carpal tunnel release. The Spanish version of the DASH was compared to the physical exam measures as dexterity time, grip and pinch strength, range of motion of the wrist (ROM) and two-point discrimination (2PPD). The responsiveness was evaluated based on the effect size (ES) and the standardised response means (SRM). The Spanish version of the CTS questionnaire (CTQ) and the Spanish version of the 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) were self-administered to the same study population and followed the same clinical design. The hypothesis that the DASH instrument should present a responsiveness level higher than the SF-36 and lower than the CTQ was established to demonstrate the construct validity. The DASH instrument showed an ES of 0.68 and an SRM of 1.00. Responsiveness of traditional physical exam measures were lower, running from 0.35 (SRM) for dexterity time to 0.00 (ES) for key pinch strength. The SF-36 presented a responsiveness level (range from 0.07 to 0.14) lower that the DASH. The CTQ showed the highest level of responsiveness (ES = 1.41 and 0.7) (SRM = 1.75 and 0.51). In conclusion, The DASH instrument is more sensitive in detecting clinical change than the physical exam measures for use in clinical outcome studies of CTS done at 12 weeks after surgery. The Spanish DASH showed a responsiveness lower than the CTQ and higher than the SF-36 as a proof of a good construct validity.
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Affiliation(s)
- R S Rosales
- Hand Surgery Unit and Institute for Research in Hand Surgery, G.E.C.O.T., Tenerife, Spain.
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Antunes NT, Tavío MM, Assunção P, Rosales RS, Poveda C, de la Fé C, Gil MC, Poveda JB. In vitro susceptibilities of field isolates of Mycoplasma agalactiae. Vet J 2008; 177:436-8. [PMID: 17604191 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2007] [Revised: 05/03/2007] [Accepted: 05/05/2007] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In order to determine how widespread antibiotic resistance has become to standard treatments, the in vitro susceptibilities of 28 Mycoplasma agalactiae Spanish field isolates to 16 antimicrobial agents were determined using a broth microdilution method. The most effective antimicrobials based on minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)(90) values were fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines and macrolides. Two strains were tetracycline resistant. Streptomycin, erythromycin and nalidixic acid resistance was observed in all strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- N T Antunes
- Unidad de Epidemiologi a y Medicina Preventiva, Instituto Universitario de Sanidad Animal (IUSA), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Arucas, Spain.
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Assunção P, Antunes NT, Rosales RS, Poveda C, de la Fe C, Poveda JB, Davey HM. Application of flow cytometry for the determination of minimal inhibitory concentration of several antibacterial agents on Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. J Appl Microbiol 2007; 102:1132-7. [PMID: 17381757 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2006.03170.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIM In this study, flow cytometry was evaluated for the determination of the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of nine antibacterial agents (enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, oxytetracycline, chloramphenicol, tylosin, lincomycin, gentamycin, spectinomycin and streptomycin) against M. hyopneumoniae. METHODS AND RESULTS Flow cytometry was able to detect Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae inhibition at 12 h postincubation, whereas the results obtained by the traditional method were only obtained at 48 h, when a visible change in the medium had occurred. At 48 h, both methods gave the same result for eight antibacterial agents, whereas flow cytometry gave slightly higher MIC values for one antibacterial agent (tylosin). This was attributed to the fact that the M. hyopneumoniae growth that had occurred in those tubes was not enough to visibly change the colour of the medium. A good relationship was found between the flow cytometry and the traditional method. CONCLUSION Flow cytometry was found to be a good method for the determination of antimicrobial MICs in M. hyopneumoniae. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY The flow cytometric method allows the determination of the response of M. hyopneumoniae to each of the antibacterial agents in near real time, and has potential for the identification and study of resistant subpopulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Assunção
- Unidad de Epidemiología y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Arucas, Spain.
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Antunes NT, Tavío MM, Mercier P, Ayling RD, Al-Momani W, Assunção P, Rosales RS, Poveda JB. In vitro susceptibilities of Mycoplasma putrefaciens field isolates. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2007; 51:3452-4. [PMID: 17638695 PMCID: PMC2043204 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00420-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
MICs were determined for 15 antimicrobial agents against 37 Mycoplasma putrefaciens isolates. The most effective antimicrobial drug classes were the fluoroquinolones, the tetracyclines, the lincosamide lincomycin, and the macrolides. The susceptibility profile of the isolates correlated with the geographic origin. This is the first report of decreased susceptibility to the macrolides, lincomycin, and the tetracyclines in M. putrefaciens strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- N T Antunes
- Unidad de Epidemiología y Medicina Preventiva, Instituto Universitario de Sanidad Animal (IUSA), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Trasmontaña s/n, 35416 Arucas, Spain.
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Antunes NT, Tavío MM, Assunção P, Rosales RS, Aquili V, de la Fé C, Poveda JB. In vitro susceptibilities of field isolates of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides large colony type to 15 antimicrobials. Vet Microbiol 2007; 119:72-5. [PMID: 16978803 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2006.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2006] [Revised: 08/04/2006] [Accepted: 08/09/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
In vitro susceptibilities of 16 Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides large colony type field isolates to 15 antimicrobial agents were determined using a broth microdilution method. The most effective antimicrobials were fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines and macrolides, with MIC values under 2 microg/ml. Resistance to nalidixic acid, gentamicin, streptomycin and spectinomycin was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- N T Antunes
- Unidad de Epidemiología y Medicina Preventiva, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Trasmontaña s/n, 35416 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain.
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Assunção P, de la Fe C, Antunes NT, Rosales RS, Ruiz de Galarreta CM, Poveda JB. Use of flow cytometry for enumeration of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides large-colony type in broth medium. J Appl Microbiol 2006; 100:878-84. [PMID: 16553745 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2005.02858.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The potential of using flow cytometry (FC) in combination with a fluorescent dye (SYBR green-I) for rapidly estimating Mycoplasma mycoides subSPS. mycoides large-colony type (MmmLC) in broth culture was examined. METHODS AND RESULTS The FC analysis was performed by staining the MmmLC cells with a fluorescent dye, SYBR green-I (SYBR), and the results were compared with plate count method (colony forming units, - CFUs). There was a good correlation (linear regression, r(2) = 0.93) between mycoplasma counts determined by FC (cells ml(-1)) and by traditional plate count method (CFU ml(-1)). The lowest bacterial concentration detected by FC and traditional plate count was of the order of 10(4) cells ml(-1) and 10(3) CFU ml(-1), respectively. FC method allowed results in 20-30 min, whereas at least 24 h were necessary to obtain results with the traditional plate count method (CFU). CONCLUSION Growth rates of MmmLC in broth medium determined by FC were highly reproducible and correlated well with mycoplasma counts assessed by the plate count method. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY These findings suggest that FC could be a good alternative to replace other time-consuming techniques that are currently used to enumerate mycoplasma in broth medium, such as plate count method (CFU).
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Affiliation(s)
- P Assunção
- Unidad de Epidemiología y Medicina Preventiva. Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, ULPGC, Arucas, Spain
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de la Fe C, Assunção P, Rosales RS, Antunes T, Poveda JB. Characterisation of protein and antigen variability among Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides (LC) and Mycoplasma agalactiae field strains by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting. Vet J 2006; 171:532-8. [PMID: 16624721 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2005.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/10/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides (LC) (Mmm LC) and Mycoplasma agalactiae are the most important mycoplasma species involved in the contagious agalactia syndrome. A total of 25 field strains from Spain and the two type strains were analysed by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting. Two polyclonal antisera (PAbs) raised against a pool of strains of each mycoplasma species were used. The results revealed a high degree of protein variability among the field strains. The type strain of Mmm LC appeared to be representative of the field strains of this species, whereas this was not the case with the M. agalactiae type strain. Whereas M. agalactiae is known to possess a gene family regulating surface antigen diversity, there is a need to study the mechanisms used byMmm LC to generate antigenic variability in more detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- C de la Fe
- Unit of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Veterinary Faculty, University of Las Palmas, Trasmontaña s/n. 35416 Arucas, Gran Canaria, Spain.
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Abstract
In this work, we report a microbiological survey for Mycoplasma spp. undertaken between 2001 and 2002 in 28 goat herds in Gran Canaria, Spain, an area where contagious agalactia is endemic. All herds were randomly selected and represented approximately 15.5% of the total goat population of the island. A variable number of milk, articular and auricular swab samples were collected from each flock and cultured in specific mycoplasma culture media. There was a total of 38.5% positive flocks from which 37 mycoplasma isolates were obtained. In contrast with previous data obtained in Spain, our results showed that the large colony variant of M. mycoides subsp. mycoides (Mmm LC) was the most commonly isolated agent associated with contagious agalactia. This species was isolated from 90% of the positive herds and accounted for 54.1% of all isolations. M. agalactiae was isolated from 40% of the positive herds (27% of all isolations) and in six herds M. arginini was isolated (18.7% of all isolations). No M. capricolum or M. putrefaciens strains were isolated. Mycoplasmas were isolated from 21 milk samples, 15 ear canals swabs and one articular sample. The association of several species was reported in several herds. These results are at variance with previous serological studies, which indicated a higher disease prevalence, and suggest that it could be necessary to use detection techniques such PCR to confirm the existence of contagious agalactia in goats.
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Affiliation(s)
- C De la Fe
- Unit of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Veterinary Faculty, University of Las Palmas, Trasmontaña s/n. 35416 Arucas, Gran Canaria, Spain.
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