Detection and Isolation of Mycoplasma capricolum Subspecies Capricolum from East Azerbaijan Sheep Flocks

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Microbiology
• Animal Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Contagious agalactia (CA) is a significant disease affecting sheep and goats in the Mediterranean and Middle East.
• Mycoplasma capricolum subspecies capricolum (Mcc) is a key etiological agent of CA, alongside Mycoplasma agalactiae and Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies Capri.
• Mcc, Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies Capri, and Mycoplasma putrefaciens can cause similar clinical presentations, particularly in goats.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and detect Mycoplasma capricolum subspecies capricolum (Mcc) in sheep flocks within East Azerbaijan Province, Iran.
• To evaluate the efficacy of different sample types (milk, ear canal, eye swabs) for Mcc detection.

Main Methods:

• Collection of milk, ear canal, and eye swab samples from 49 sheep flocks exhibiting CA clinical signs or with a disease history.
• Utilized both traditional culture methods and molecular techniques, including Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), for Mycoplasma genus identification.
• Further molecular testing identified the M. mycoides cluster and specifically Mcc in positive samples.

Main Results:

• Out of 272 total samples, 67 were positive by culture, 87 by PCR, and 62 by both methods.
• Mycoplasma capricolum subspecies capricolum (Mcc) was identified in all four samples that tested positive for the M. mycoides cluster.
• This study marks the first report of Mcc detection in the East Azerbaijan region.

Conclusions:

• Mycoplasma capricolum subspecies capricolum (Mcc) is present in sheep populations in East Azerbaijan, Iran.
• Eye, milk, and ear canal swabs are suitable biological specimens for the reliable detection of Mcc in affected sheep flocks.
• The findings contribute to understanding the epidemiology of contagious agalactia in Iranian sheep.