PREVALENCE OF
MYCOPLASMA CAPRICOLUM SUBSPECIES CAPRICOLUM AND MYCOPLASMA PUTREFACIENS IN GOATS IN PISHIN DISTRICT OF BALOCHISTAN
M. A. AWAN, F. ABBAS, M. YASINZAI1, R.
A. J. NICHOLAS2, S. BABAR, R. D. AYLING2, M. A. ATTIQUE
AND Z. AHMED
Center for Advanced Studies in Vaccinology &
Biotechnology, University of Balochistan, Brewery Road, Quetta; 1Institute of Biochemistry, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan;
2Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Weybridge, Addlestone,
Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
Abstract
Several
Mycoplasmaspecies cause serious and economically important
diseases in goats world-wide. Forty goat flocks in the Pishin district of
Balochistan province of
Pakistan were examined for the clinical cases of contagious
caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) during 2008. Thirty goats suspected for CCPP on
the basis of respiratory symptoms were euthanized for post mortem examination,
microbiological and molecular studies. Two types of Mycoplasma species were
isolated and identified by biochemical and growth inhibition (GI) tests and
polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Mycoplasma capricolum subspecies capricolum
was isolated from 12(40%) of the nasal swabs and 12(40%) of the respective lung
cultures, whereas 2(6.7%) Mycoplasma
putrefaciens (Mp)isolatesfrom nasal swab and lung cultures and 1(3.3%) from liver and
intestine cultures were recovered. We report probably for the very first time
the isolation and identification of
Mycoplasma capricolum subspecies
capricolum (Mcc) and
Mp from the nasal swabs and lungs of goats with respiratory problems
in Pishin district of Balochistan. Experimental studies to reproduce pneumonia
or pleuropneumonia by Mcc and
Mp organisms in susceptible goats or
other laboratory animal models are further needed.