Mycoplasmas isolated from goats and sheep with pleuropneumonia in Saudi Arabia

Summary Pleuropneumonia of goats and sheep has been known to cause serious economic losses in many countries including Saudi Arabia. A preliminary investigation was carried out on 163 goats and 130 sheep which showed clinical symptoms or post-mortem lesions of pleuropneumonia. Pathological samples from the respiratory tract of live or slaughtered goats and sheep (183 and 160 samples respectively) were cultured for mycoplasmas. Of 343 mycoplasma cultures examined 211 (61·5%) isolates were characterised biochemically. A total of 116 isolates were serologically identified asM. mycoides subsp.mycoides, M. ovipneumonia, M. conjunctivae, M. agalactiae subsp.agalactiae, M. putrifaciens andM. arginini. The remaining mycoplasma isolates were not identified. The significance of the identified isolates and their probable pathogenic effect on the respiratory tract of goats and sheep are discussed. Their pathogenicity needs to be established experimentally before initiating a control programme in the Kingdom.

---

Resumen Se llevó a cabo una investigación preliminar en 163 cabras y 130 ovejas las cuales mostraron síntomas clínicos o lesiones postmortem de pleuroneumonía contagiosa. Se cultivaron en medios especiales muestras patológicas del tracto respiratorio de cabras y ovejas vivas (183 y 160 muestras respectivamente. De 343 cultivos examinados, 211 (61·5%) aislamientos se caracterizaron bioquímicamente. Un total de 116 aislamientos se caracterizaron serológicamente comoM. mycoides, subsp.mycoides, M. ovipneumonia, M. conjuntivae, M. agalactiae subsp.agalactiae, M. putrifaciens yM. arginini. Los restantes micoplasmas aislados no fueron identificados. Se discute el significado de los aislamientos identificados y su posible efecto patógeno en el tracto respiratorio de cabras y ovejas. Es necesario establecer la patogenicidad experimentalmente antes de iniciar un programa de control en el Reino.

---

Résumé On sait que la pleuropneumonie du mouton et de la chèvre cause de sérieuses pertes économiques dans beaucoup de pays, dont l'Arabie Saoudite. Une recherche préliminaire a été entreprise sur 163 chèvres et 130 moutons montrant des sympt?mes cliniques ou des lésions à l'autopsie. Des prélèvements du tractus respiratoire de chèvres et de moutons vivants ou abattus (respectivement 183 et 160 échantillons) ont été mis en culture pour la recherche de mycoplasmes. Sur les 343 cultures de mycoplasmes examinées, 211 souches (soit 61,5%) ont été caractérisées au point de vue biochimique. 116 souches ont pu être identifiées sérologiquement comme étantM. mycoides sub.mycoides, M. ovipneumoniae, M. conjunctivae, M. agalactiae sub.agalactiae, M. putrefaciens etM. arginini. Les autres souches de mycoplasmes n'ont pas été identifiées. La signification des souches identifiées et leur effet pathogène probable sur le tractus respiratoire des chèvres et des moutons sont discutés. Leur pouvoir pathogène demande à être expérimentalement établi avant de mettre en place un programme de contr?le de la maladie dans le Royaume.

     

In vitro antimicrobial sensitivity of Mycoplasmas isolated from the bovine genital tract.

The in vitro antimicrobial sensitivity of 14 mycoplasma and 13 ureaplasma strains isolated from the genital tracts of bulls was examined. It was found that at relatively low concentrations, tetracycline, declomycin and tylosin were lethal to both types of organisms. Lincospectin, berenil, streptomycin and erythromycin were lethal to mycoplasmas but were only inhibitory to the ureaplasma strains at the same concentrations. Polymyxin B and novobiocin were ineffective at the levels tested.     

Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of respiratory tract pathogens from sheep and goats

OBJECTIVE: To determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of common respiratory tract pathogens from sheep and goats. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SAMPLE POPULATION: 41 respiratory tract isolates from sheep and 36 isolates from goats. PROCEDURES: Disk diffusion assay was used to determine antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, ceftiofur, ciprofloxacin, florfenicol, and tetracycline. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of florfenicol for these isolates were determined by use of the microbroth dilution technique. RESULTS: The most common isolates were Pasteurella multocida (n = 28) and Mannheimia haemolytica (39). All isolates were susceptible to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, ceftiofur, ciprofloxacin, and florfenicol. Five percent (4/77) of isolates were resistant to tetracycline. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Susceptibility of respiratory tract pathogens isolated from sheep and goats to commonly used antimicrobial drugs in this study was high. Treatment of these species for bacterial respiratory tract disease is likely not complicated by antimicrobial resistance.     

Isolation of mycoplasma species from the lower respiratory tract of healthy cattle and cattle with respiratory disease in Belgium

Between 1997 and 2000, a total of 150 healthy cattle and 238 animals with respiratory disease were examined for six Mycoplasma species. Attempts were made to detect Mycoplasma canis, Mycoplasma dispar and Ureaplasma diversum in calves with recurrent disease, and all three of these species were identified in calves with recurrent disease and in healthy lungs. In healthy calves, 84 per cent of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids were mycoplasma free; when cultures were positive, Mycoplasma bovirhinis was the only species isolated. Mycoplasmas were isolated from 78 per cent of animals suffering recurrent respiratory disease and from 65 per cent of acute respiratory cases. Mycoplasma bovis was isolated from bronchoalveolar lavages from 35 per cent of calves suffering recurrent respiratory disease, and from 50 per cent of acute cases, and from 20 per cent of pneumonic cases examined postmortem. M bovis was associated with other Mycoplasma species in 44 per cent of cases. M dispar was also isolated from 45.5 per cent of calves suffering recurrent respiratory disease, often in association with M bovis. M canis was identified for the first time in diseased Belgian cattle. Other mycoplasmas, including Mycoplasma arginini, Mycoplasma alkalescens and U diversum, were isolated less frequently. Associations between mycoplasmas and other pathogens were often observed. Among lungs infected with Pasteurella and/or Mannheimia species, more than 50 per cent were mixed infections with M bovis.     

Mycoplasmas and mites in the ears of clinically normal goats

SUMMARY Mycoplasmas were detected in the external ear canal of goats by swabbing and culture. Up to 10⁸ colony forming units were recovered from single swabs. The resulting cultures were usually mixtures of mycoplasmas containing up to 5 species. The species present in sequential swabs varied. Pathogenic species (M.agalactiae, M.capricolum, M.mycoides subsp. capri, M.mycoides subsp. mycoides of the large colony (LC) type, M.putrefaciens) were isolated from the ears and in addition 3 untyped mycoplasmas G, U and V were often present. The same mycoplasmas were found in large numbers in the mites Psoroptes cuniculi and Raillietla caprae which were sometimes present in the external ear canal. The role of the mycoplasmas in the external ear canal as a source of infection and disease and of the mites in the spread of infection requires further elucidation.     

Bovine viral diarrhoea virus infection in cattle,sheep and goats in northern Tanzania

Virological and serological investigations were carried out in cattle, sheep and goats raised in the northern part of Tanzania in order to explore the possibility of bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) virus cycling within these animal species. Two noncytopathogenic BVD virus isolates (A4/5/Tan86 and A4/10/Tan86) were obtained from sera sampled from inapparently infected indigenous (zebu) cattle originating from Kiteto district in Arusha region. No BVD virus was isolated from any of the sheep or goat sera. Seroepidemiological investigations revealed widespread prevalence of neutralising antibodies to BVD virus not only in cattle but also in sheep and goats. The seropositive rates are discussed in relation to previous observations in Tanzania and other parts of the world and to the livestock husbandry practices in northern Tanzania.     

Mycoplasmas of sheep and goats: a synopsis

The currently recognised mycoplasmas of sheep and goats are briefly reviewed to indicate their pathogenicities, the various disease syndromes with which they be associated and their geographical distribution. The mycoplasmas of proven pathogenicity not presently known to exist in the United Kingdom and which therefore constitute importation hazards are thereby identified.     

Pulmonary lesions and Mycobacterium bovis excretion from the respiratory tract of tuberculin reacting cattle

Although it is generally recognised that tuberculous lesions are present in lymph nodes associated with the respiratory tract in approximately 90 per cent of reactors with confirmed infection, lung lesions are found in only 1 to 2 per cent of such cases during abattoir examination. When lung lesions are not detected, it has been claimed that such cattle are non-excretors and thus unimportant in the epidemiology of the disease. In this study the lungs of 55 reactor cattle were sliced into sections approximately 0.5 cm thick. Tuberculous lesions were evident in over 70 per cent of lungs from reactors with concurrent lesions in lymph nodes of the respiratory system. Further, M bovis was isolated from single samples of nasal and, or, tracheal mucus taken at slaughter in 19 per cent of confirmed cases. Several of these reactors had a clear tuberculin test less than six months previously indicating recent infection. This study confirms the continued importance of the infected bovine in the epidemiology and current eradication of bovine tuberculosis. It is suggested that all tuberculous cattle with lesions in respiratory lymph nodes, rather than being regarded as non-excretors, should be considered as possible excretors and thus important sources of infection for other cattle both within and between herds.     

Important virus infections of the respiratory tract in cattle from the clinical point of view

The etiological participation of different viruses in the pneumonia complex of cattle is undisputed. The significance of the individual viruses in the genesis of disease symptoms is still mostly unclear. Since the pneumonia complex of cattle is a multifactorial syndrome, vaccination programs as the only measure of prophylaxis in most cases do not show the desired effect. Against those viral agents causing self-standing diseases of the respiratory tract, specific vaccinations are applicable with success. Prerequisite for their effectiveness, however, is the exact etiological clarification of the cause of disease or of the existing infections respectively in the herd. The frequency of possible viral agents in infections of the respiratory tract in cattle from herds of the province of Schleswig-Holstein found in routine diagnostic work during the last four years is presented in addition.     

Variation in quantity and quality of native forages and grazing behavior of cattle and goats in Tanzania

The study was conducted to assess the effects of seasonal variation in the quality and quantity of pasture and management of livestock exclosures (ngitili) on the grazing behavior of cattle and goats. The study was 2×2×2 factorial design with three independent variables: season (Dry or Rainy), ngitili management (Private or Communal) and animal species (Cattle or Goats). Focal and scan observation methods were used to record different behavioral activities. Vegetation attributes from the study areas were measured in two consecutive seasons. Most key forage species had significant higher crude protein (CP) content and in vitro organic matter digestibility (INVOMD) in rainy than in dry season (P<0.05), but Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) and Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) did not vary significantly with season (P>0.05). ADF and NDF were significantly higher in species from communal ngitili than those from private ngitili (P<0.05). Above-ground herbaceous biomass and bulk density (BD) were significantly higher in the rainy season and in the private ngitili than in the dry season and in the communal ngitili respectively. Cattle and goats spent considerably more time grazing and browsing respectively in the rainy season than in the dry season (P<0.05). Cattle foraging activities did not vary significantly (P>0.05) with ngitili management, but goats found to spend considerably more time browsing in the communal ngitili and more time grazing in the private ngitili (P<0.05). Despite the merits of stocking cattle and goats together in the heterogeneous pasture, seasonal variation in forage resources requires investigation of other strategies such as use of multipurpose trees and treatment of crop residues to improve livestock production.     

家兔呼吸道疾病病原分离鉴定与药敏试验

随着家兔养殖的集约化和规模化,兔场呼吸道疾病呈增加趋势.笔者于2009～2010年走访了成都周边地区规模化兔场,发现该病具有普遍性,患病成年兔表现为流黏液性或脓性鼻涕,打喷嚏,剖检主要见肺实变、出血性肺炎、化脓性肺炎或纤维素性胸膜肺炎,成年兔耐受力强,一般不死亡,种兔不发情;患病幼兔表现为流黏液性鼻涕和打喷嚏,急性病例常突然死亡,剖检多见出血性肺炎.     

Pasteurella species isolated from the bovine respiratory tract and their antimicrobial sensitivity patterns

Pasteurella haemolytica biotype A, serotype 1 (P haemolytica A1) was the most commonly isolated Pasteurella species from 80 calves examined at necropsy from 40 outbreaks of respiratory disease, the majority of which were pathologically confirmed as bovine pneumonic pasteurellosis (transit fever; shipping fever). Similarly, nasopharyngeal swabs from in-contact and apparently healthy calves indicated the widespread presence of P haemolytica A1. Pasteurella multocida and other serotypes of P haemolytica A1 were found including six isolations of P haemolytica T10, a fairly common pathogen in sheep. Approximately two-thirds of the isolates were tested for their antimicrobial sensitivity patterns and the degree of sensitivity for P haemolytica A1, the most frequently isolated serotype, was chloramphenicol (100 per cent), sulphamethoxazole trimethoprim (98 per cent), oxytetracycline (80 per cent), ampicillin (85 per cent), penicillin (82 per cent), streptomycin (3 per cent) and lincomycin (1 per cent).     

Field trial of theophylline in cattle with respiratory tract disease

A field trial was conducted to determine the efficacy of theophylline in relieving respiratory distress associated with bovine respiratory disease complex (shipping fever). Theophylline (as aminophylline capsules) was administered PO at a dosage of 28 mg/kg of body weight daily for 3 days to 20 calves with naturally acquired disease. Twenty similarly affected calves from the same group were given a placebo, and all calves were administered antibiotics concurrently. Respiratory rate and rectal temperature decreased and physical appearance improved in both groups of calves and was attributed to antibiotic administration or to natural remission of the disease. Five of the calves administered theophylline died; however, no calves administered the placebo died. Plasma theophylline concentration was greatly increased, compared with that determined in clinically normal calves in a pilot study. Bovine respiratory tract disease and/or concurrent antibiotic administration appear to cause such a rapid accumulation of lethal concentration of theophylline that its use should be restricted to hospitals capable of monitoring plasma theophylline concentration.     

Comparison of the characteristics of avian reoviruses isolated from the digestive and respiratory tract, with viruses isolated from the synovia.

Two-week-old gnotobiotic chicks were inoculated in the foot pad with viruses isolated from synovia and synovial membrane-WVU 1464-29H, WVU 1675, WVU 2937, WVU 2986, and WVU 71-212; from digestive tract-reoviruses 24, 25, and 59; or from respiratory tract-reovirus Fahey-Crawley (FC). All viruses induced swelling of the foot pad and inflammatory changes of synovial membrane. Serum from virus-infected chicks had a common agar gel precipitin (AGP) line. On the basis of the plaque-reduction test in primary chicken kidney (PCK) cells, the viruses were classified into 4 major serotypes. All viruses produced cytopathic effects (CPE) in primary chicken tissue cultures. Other than reovirus FC and WVU 1464-29H, all viruses produced CPE in the Vero cell line.     

Characterization studies on mycoplasmas isolated from bovine mastitis and the bovine respiratory tract.

Mycoplasmas isolated from bovine mastitis in California were classified into five distinct species. These included Mycoplasma bovis, M. bovigenitalium, M. alkalescens, M. canadenfe, and an unidentified strain, ST-6. Strains frequently recovered from the nose of young calves proved to be M. arginini, M. bovirhinis was recovered from the respiratory tract but was not a common finding.