Demonstration of Mycoplasma hyorhinis as a possible primary pathogen for porcine otitis media

A study of the pathology of the ear was performed on 479 pigs ranging in age from 1 day to 1 year. Histologically, 364 (76.0%) of 479 pigs were affected with otitis. Eustachitis was the most common and preceded an inflammation of other sites of the ear, and an acute eustachitis occurred from as early as 1 week of life. Immunohistochemical examination of frozen cryostat sections revealed Mycoplasma hyorhinis (Mhr) antigens on the luminal surface of the eustachian epithelia in 14 (50.0%) of 28 piglets examined. All the pigs positive for Mhr had an acute eustachitis. Ultrastructural examination on the auditory tubes with positive immunostaining disclosed many mycoplasmas among the cilia. Mhr was isolated from the auditory tubes and tympanic cavities of 19 (67.9%) and 16 (57.1%) of 28 piglets examined, respectively. Porcine otitis media may be caused primarily by Mhr infection in the auditory tube.