Agent Of Contagious Agalactia Research Articles

Molecular characterization and pathogenicity of Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricpolum from goats in Morocco

Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum (Mcc) is an important etiological agent of contagious agalactia (CA). CA affects small ruminants and is characterized by inducing mastitis, arthritis, kerato-conjunctivitis and respiratory symptoms. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize Mcc from Moroccan goats with contagious agalactia. A total of 300 Alpine goats were monitored. Serology analysis, molecular identification, and isolation of Mcc were realized from suspected goats. An experimental study was conducted for isolated Mcc to determine their pathogenicity. Thus, clinical observation showed that respiratory symptoms were predominant in young animals, and other symptoms, such as mastitis, keratoconjunctivitis and lameness, were more frequently detected in adult goats. Of the 80 tested blood samples, 28 sera were seropositive for Mcc antibodies. Mcc was identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in milk, lung tissue and synovial liquid samples. The isolation of Mcc was successful through bacterial culture from lung tissue. LppA gene sequence of this strain revealed 98.1% similarity with the reference strain (ATCC 27343), with 11 missense variants. Experimental infection resulted in severe and generalized CA disease in sheep and goats, confirming the high pathogenicity of the Moroccan Mcc isolate.

Mycoplasma agalactiae ST35: a new sequence type with a minimal accessory genome primarily affecting goats

BackgroundMycoplasma agalactiae, causing agent of contagious agalactia, infects domestic small ruminants such as sheep and goats but also wild Caprinae. M. agalactiae is highly contagious and transmitted through oral, respiratory, and mammary routes spreading rapidly in an infected herd.ResultsIn an outbreak of contagious agalactia in a mixed herd of sheep and goats, 80% of the goats were affected displaying swollen udders and loss of milk production but no other symptom such as kerato-conjunctivitis, arthritis or pulmonary distress commonly associated to contagious agalactia. Surprisingly, none of the sheep grazing on a common pasture and belonging to the same farm as the goats were affected. Whole genome sequencing and analysis of M. agalactiae strain GrTh01 isolated from the outbreak, revealed a previously unknown sequence type, ST35, and a particularly small, genome size of 841′635 bp when compared to others available in public databases. Overall, GrTh01 displayed a reduced accessory genome, with repertoires of gene families encoding variable surface proteins involved in host-adhesion and variable antigenicity being scaled down. GrTh01 was also deprived of Integrative Conjugative Element or prophage, and had a single IS element, suggesting that GrTh01 has a limited capacity to adapt and evolve.ConclusionsThe lack of most of the variable antigens and the Integrative Conjugative Element, both major virulence- and host specificity factors of a M. agalactiae strain isolated from an outbreak affecting particularly goats, indicates the implication of these factors in host specificity. Whole genome sequencing and full assembly of bacterial pathogens provides a most valuable tool for epidemiological and virulence studies of M. agalactiae without experimental infections.

Comparative Therapeutic Efficacy of Different Drugs Against Caprine Contagious Agalactia

The present work was undertaken with the aim to compare the therapeutic efficacy of different drugs against contagious agalactia in lactating goats. A total of 24 lactating goats having clinical mastitis and positive for Mycoplasma agalactiae were placed randomly into four groups i.e. T1-T4, each group comprised of six mastitic goats and subjected to different therapeutic regimens. Six clinically healthy goats were kept as healthy control. Mycoplasma agalactiae was detected and confirmed as causative agent of contagious agalactia by using polymerase chain reactions which showed a specific 176 bp bands obtained from the DNA amplification of Mycoplasma agalactiae using primers ma-mp 1F and ma-mp 1R. The response of therapeutic study was evaluated on the basis of clinical score card, clinical parameters and polymerase chain reactions on day 0 pretreatment and on days 7 and 14 post treatment. At the time of sampling, the clinical signs in sick animals were of clinical mastitis i.e. swelling of udder, abnormal milk secretion, pain on palpation of the udder and raised clinical parameters. The response of therapeutic study revealed significant improvement in temperature, pulse and respiration in all the treatment groups. On the basis of score card and polymerase chain reactions results on days 7 and 14 post-treatment, goats of the group T4 that was subjected to the treatment with combination of tylosin, tocopherol and sodium selenite showed earliest recovery.

Complete Genome Sequence of Mycoplasma putrefaciens Strain 9231, One of the Agents of Contagious Agalactia in Goats

Mycoplasma putrefaciens is one of the etiologic agents of contagious agalactia in goats. We report herein the complete genome sequence of Mycoplasma putrefaciens strain 9231.

Detection of Mycoplasma agalactiae by Polymerase Chain Reaction in Jordanian Sheep and Goat Herds

The aim of the study was to ascertain whether sheep and goats from selected Jordanian herds were infected with Mycoplasma agalactiae, the most common aetiological agent of contagious agalactia of sheep and goats. All examined animals showed clinical signs of disease at the time of sample collection. The group included 35 animals, 15 sheep and 20 goats. For microbiological examination, a total of 107 swabs were taken from conjunctival, nasal, vaginal or preputial mucosae and from the external auditory canal. Identification of the species isolated was carried out by a polymerase chain reaction. Of the 35 animals, 21 (4 sheep and 17 goats) tested positive for Mycoplasma agalactiae. These results confirmed our assumption that this mycoplasma species is present in Jordanian herds and, for the first time, provided evidence that contagious agalactia of sheep and goats occurs in Jordan.

Prevalence of Mycoplasma agalactiae Antibodies in Czech and Jordanian Herds of Small Ruminants

Madanat A., D. Zendulkova, P. Lany, Z. Pospi‰il, P. âihal: Prevalence of Mycoplasma agalactiae Antibodies in Czech and Jordanian Herds of Small Ruminants. Acta Vet. Brno 2002, 71: 37-44. We investigated the presence of antibodies against Mycoplasma agalactiae, a causal agent of contagious agalactia, in herds of small ruminants. Eighty serum samples collected from 60 sheep and 20 goats in the Czech Republic and 137 samples collected from 78 sheep and 59 goats in Jordan were examined in our laboratory. Only the Jordan animals showed clinical signs of the disease. The sera were analysed for the presence of antibodies by a specific enzyme immunoassay. Of the 137 Jordan sera, eight gave positive reactions, 11 reactions were dubious and 117 were negative. All sera from the Czech animals showed negative reactions. The results provide evidence that, as expected, the Czech Republic is currently free from the mycoplasma agent causing contagious agalactia of sheep and goats and that, in Jordan as well as in many other Arabic countries, this disease is a frequent and serious health problem in herds of small ruminants. Sheep, goat, contagious agalactia, serum antibody, Mycoplasma agalactiae, enzyme immunoassay