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Canine mycoplasmas: pathogenicity of mycoplasmas associated with distemper pneumonia
Abstract:
Mycoplasmas of the following species were isolated from the lungs of dog with distemper: Mycoplasma cynos, Mycoplasma bovigenitalium, Mycoplasma canis, Mycoplasma spumans, and Mycoplasma gateae. One-week-old dogs were inoculated endobronchially with cloned cultures of each species. M. cynos induced a focal pneumonia that were characterized histologically by severe inflammation of bronchi and adjacent respiratory tract tissue. The inflammatory response was initially neutrophilic and later was histiocytic with interstitial lymphoid hyperplasia. M. cynos was recovered from the lungs of inoculated dogs until three weeks after inoculation. A mild inflammatory response was observed in lung tissue of the dog inoculated with M. bovigenitalium, whereas M. canis, M. spumans, and, M. gateae did not induce any visible lesions.
Insights
Mycoplasma cynos causes pneumonia in dogs, characterized by severe inflammation. Other Mycoplasma species tested did not induce significant lung lesions in young dogs.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Canine Respiratory Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Canine distemper can predispose dogs to secondary bacterial or mycoplasmal infections.
- The role of specific Mycoplasma species in canine respiratory disease is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the pathogenicity of Mycoplasma cynos and other canine Mycoplasma species in experimentally infected dogs.
- To characterize the histopathological changes induced by Mycoplasma cynos in the canine respiratory tract.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of Mycoplasma species from naturally infected dogs.
- Endobronchial inoculation of one-week-old dogs with cloned Mycoplasma cultures.
- Histopathological examination of lung tissues and microbiological recovery of Mycoplasma.
Main Results:
- Mycoplasma cynos induced focal pneumonia with severe bronchial inflammation and a mixed neutrophilic and histiocytic inflammatory response.
- Mycoplasma cynos was re-isolated from lungs up to three weeks post-inoculation.
- Mycoplasma bovigenitalium caused mild lung inflammation, while Mycoplasma canis, M. spumans, and M. gateae did not induce visible lesions.
Conclusions:
- Mycoplasma cynos is a significant respiratory pathogen in young dogs, capable of causing pneumonia.
- Other Mycoplasma species commonly found in dogs may have limited or no pathogenic potential for the respiratory tract.