Mycoplasma mycoides subsp mycoides, LC type, from goats in Italy

A mycoplasma identified as Mycoplasma mycoides subsp mycoides LC type was isolated from an outbreak of caprine pleuropneumonia and serofibrinous peritonitis. This isolate was the first to be reported in Italy. Experimentally, a rapidly fatal condition followed its inoculation into goats and sheep but inoculation of calves did not lead to clinically apparent infection. Although the organism was recovered for up to 45 days following experimental inoculation of calves, pathological changes were limited to the drainage lymph nodes except in one case where there were histological changes in the lungs.