Conjunctivitis associated with a Mycoplasma-like organism in swine

A midwestern producer reported high incidence of conjunctivitis and keratoconjunctivitis in a herd of crossbred finishing swine. Complete necropsy was performed on 3 pigs with bilateral mucopurulent conjunctivitis and chemosis; other gross lesions were not seen. Mycoplasma sp was isolated from conjunctival swab specimens obtained from 1 pig; small numbers of streptococci and coagulase-negative staphylococci were isolated from conjunctival swab specimens from all 3 pigs. Neither swine influenza virus nor pseudorabies virus was isolated from conjunctival swab specimens. Histologically, the 3 pigs had chronic lymphoplasmacytic conjunctivitis with lymphofollicular hyperplasia and foci of epithelial and goblet cell hyperplasia. Ultrastructural examination of conjunctival specimens from the 3 pigs revealed large numbers of Mycoplasma-like organisms adhered to superficial conjunctival cells. Mycoplasma-like organisms also were seen in membrane-bound vacuoles in superficial conjunctival cells. Bacteria (including chlamydiae) or viruses were not seen ultrastructurally. The lymphoproliferative nature of the conjunctival lesion and the evidence of adhered and intracellular organisms suggested an etiologic role for a Mycoplasma-like organism in the disease in these pigs.