Characterization, Molecular Diagnosis and Prevalence of Caprine Mycoplasmosis in Different Areas of Pakistan

A study was conducted to characterize caprine mycoplasma species and to know its prevalence in different areas of Pakistan during 2006 to 2007. A total of 1440 samples (including nasal discharge, pleural fluid, lung tissue, synovial fluid, and milk (1180), and 260 sera) were collected from clinically affected goats of different age and sex. These samples were subjected to cultural isolation, growth inhibition test (GIT) using rabbit polyclonal antiserum against Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies capri, latex agglutination test (LAT) for the detection of Mycoplasma capricolum subspecies capripneumoniae and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). 121 samples out of 1180 showed turbidity in PPLO broth and 58 of these grew on PPLO agar, showed positive reaction to GIT. No serum sample showed positive reaction with LAT kit. Thirty five were positive for Mycoplasma mycoides cluster through PCR and identified as Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri (Mmc) through DNA sequencing. Mycoplasmosis is more prevalent in hilly and plain areas (5.8 and 4.5%) than in semi-desert and sub-hilly areas (3.3 and 2.9%).