A simplified PCR method for genotyping Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides small colony: the aetiologic agent of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia

Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides small colony is the aetiological agent of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, a cattle disease endemic to areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Twenty isolates from various geographical locations and the type strain were analysed by multi-locus sequence analysis (MLSA). The data generated was then used to develop three PCR primer sets to differentiate these isolates. The PCRs differentiated the isolates into four groups; the type strain (T); isolates of European origin (Eu); isolates from Tanzania (Af1) with a final group consisting of isolates from Namibia and Botswana (Af2). These PCRs offers a rapid and efficient post-identification typing method without the need to sequence and analyse multiple genes.