Specificity of Mycoplasma conjunctivae strains for alpine chamois Rupicapra r. rupicapra

Abstract

Abstract Infectious keratoconjunctivitis (IKC) is worldwide known as a common infection by Mycoplasma conjunctivae affecting the eyes of domestic sheep and goats where it generally leads to moderate symptoms known as ‘pink eye’. IKC also occurs in severe outbreaks in free-ranging alpine chamois Rupicapra r. rupicapra and alpine ibex Capra i. ibex. It is characterised by grave clinical symptoms resulting in blindness and perforations of the cornea of the affected animals, and finally leads to their death. Transmission of M. conjunctivae from domestic sheep to wild Caprinae has been demonstrated by molecular epidemiological studies of the infectious agent. The relatively high prevalence of M. conjunctivae in sheep populations that share pastures in the Alps with wild Caprinae, in which outbreaks occur infrequently but with high virulence, raised an important question concerning the role of host-specificity of various strains of M. conjunctivae. Investigations on genetic variations of M. conjunctivae strains...