Molecular Detection and Isolation of Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae in Pashmina and Local Goats in Five Districts of Kashmir, India

Abstract

Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) is caused by Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. caprip-neumoniae (Mccp), which belongs to Mycoplasma mycoides cluster, a group of closely related Mycoplasmas that are pathogenic to ruminants. The clinical lesions of CCPP are restricted to alveolar tissues of infected goats, which distinguish it from other respiratory diseases of small ruminants caused by members of the Mycoplasma mycoides cluster. The outbreaks of CCPP in Pashmina goats have been reported in cold arid regions of Kashmir province, such as Leh and Kargil districts and northern parts of the Kashmir valley. In the current study, a total of 55 lung samples and 70 nasal swabs were collected from clinically sick goats showing respiratory symptoms prior to death and processed for Mccp isolation and identification. The Mccp was detected in 33 (60.0%) and 24 (34.2%) samples, respectively by PCR. All the PCR positive samples for Mccp were further processed for isolation but only five isolates were obtained due to their fastidious nature which were confirmed by typical colony morphology and DNA sequencing of 548 bp 16SrRNA gene fragment. The five isolates were isolated from lung samples of Pashmina goats of Leh district. The results of the current study reveal that Pashmina goats of Ladakh region are highly vulnerable to CCPP and is the major cause of mortality and morbidity among them particularly during the winter season. Hence, there is an immediate need to isolate and characterise the organism for the development of autogenous vaccine to combat this economically important disease of goats. This communication records the first ever report on molecular detection and isolation of Mccp from Pashmina goats in India and is the first step towards development of vaccine against CCPP.