Infection of two goatherds with Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri in Hungary,evidence of a possible faecal excretion

During epidemic outbreaks in two goatherds clinical symptoms and deaths occurred in five (14%) of the 3-week-old goat kids in farm A, and in six (33%) of those in farm B. In the latter farm, three female goats aborted before the clinical symptoms in the kids emerged. Mycoplasma could be isolated from both healthy and sick goat kids and from female goats, which had diseased kids or had aborted. Three goat kids (one from herd A and two from herd B) were sent for post-mortem examination. In all these cases septicaemia caused by Mycoplasma was diagnosed. Based on the bacteriological examination the Mycoplasma strains proved to be Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri (Mmc). This was confirmed by the PCR examination. Mmc was isolated from several locations including from the rectum of one healthy female goat, and from two diseased kids. In addition, bacteria were detected in the small intestine in two of the necropsied kids by bacteriological and/or immunohistochemical methods. The finding suggests that Mmc may be transmitted via faeces in goatherds, kept under conventional conditions.