Studies into the prevalence of Mycoplasma species in small ruminants in Benue State, North-central Nigeria

Investigation of the Prevalence of Mycoplasma Ovipneumoniae in Southern Xinjiang, China

Introduction

It is very important to monitor the infection of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae as a potential threat to the sheep industry. Southern Xinjiang is a major sheep breeding base in China, however, there is no relevant information concerning the infection of the region’s ovine stock with this bacteria at present. This study aimed to address this knowledge gap.

Material and Methods

A total of 824 nasal swabs and the lungs of six sheep that died of pneumonia were collected in four regions between 2018 and 2020. Primers specific for M. ovipneumoniae and universal ones for the genus were used for PCR. Sequencing was undertaken of 159 universal primer-positive samples (153 nasal swabs and 6 lungs) and of 84 specific primer-positive samples (80 nasal swabs, 20 per region; and 4 lungs, 1 per region). The lungs were also sampled for the isolation of M. ovipneumoniae. A phylogenetic tree based on partial sequences of the Mycoplasma 16S rRNA gene was built.

Results

The overall nasal swab positive rate for M. ovipneumoniae was 40.78%; the rate of animals older than 12 months was significantly different to those of younger sheep (< 3 months, 53.39%; 3 – 12 months, 46.01%; >12 months, 31.76%). Four strains of M. ovipneumoniae were isolated from six lungs. Phylogenetic analysis indicated their origin outside southern Xinjiang. Two other species were also detected: M. arginine and M. conjunctivae.

Conclusion

Our survey indicated that a high level of M. ovipneumoniae asymptomatic colonisation in sheep, especially in lambs, affects southern Xinjiang and also confirmed the existence of M. conjunctivae and M. arginine. Our results showed that the health of sheep in southern Xinjiang is facing a great threat, and relevant prevention and control measures should be strengthened.

Prioritizing smallholder animal health needs in East Africa, West Africa, and South Asia using three approaches: Literature review, expert workshops, and practitioner surveys

Managing the health needs of livestock contributes to reducing poverty and improving the livelihoods of smallholder and pastoralist livestock keepers globally. Animal health practitioners, producers, policymakers, and researchers all must prioritize how to mobilize limited resources. This study employed three approaches to prioritize animal health needs in East and West Africa and South Asia to identify diseases and syndromes that impact livestock keepers. The approaches were a) systematic literature review, b) a series of expert workshops, and c) a practitioner survey of veterinarians and para-veterinary professionals. The top constraints that emerged from all three approaches include endo/ ectoparasites, foot and mouth disease, brucellosis, peste des petits ruminants, Newcastle disease, and avian influenza. Expert workshops additionally identified contagious caprine pleuropneumonia, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, mastitis, and reproductive disorders as constraints not emphasized in the literature review. Practitioner survey results additionally identified nutrition as a constraint for smallholder dairy and pastoralist small ruminant production. Experts attending the workshops agreed most constraints can be managed using existing veterinary technologies and best husbandry practices, which supports a shift away from focusing on individual diseases and new technologies towards addressing systemic challenges that limit access to veterinary services and inputs. Few research studies focused on incidence/ prevalence of disease and impact, suggesting better incorporation of socio-economic impact measures in future research would better represent the interests of livestock keepers.

Risk factors and productivity losses associated with Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae infection in United States domestic sheep operations

Association of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae with pneumonia in domestic small ruminants has been described in Europe, Asia, and New Zealand but has received less attention in the United States. In 2011, the US Department of Agriculture's National Animal Health Monitoring System detected M. ovipneumoniae shedding in 88% of 453 domestic sheep operations tested in 22 states that accounted for 85.5% of US ewe inventory in 2001. We evaluated factors associated with M. ovipneumoniae infection presence and prevalence, and we compared health, lamb production, and ewe losses in infected and uninfected operations. M. ovipneumoniae detection was more common in larger operations than in smaller operations. Both likelihood of detection (at the operation level) and within-operation prevalence were higher in operations with more open management practices than in operations with more closed management practices. M. ovipneumoniae-positive operations showed significantly lower lambing rates and lower rates of lamb survival to weaning after accounting for differences in operation size and management practice. While its effect on any single rate was not particularly large, in aggregate we estimated that M. ovipneumoniae presence was associated with an approximately 4.3% reduction in annual lamb production.

Prevalence of pathogens from Mollicutes class in cattle affected by respiratory diseases and molecular characteristics of Mycoplasma bovis field strains

Introduction: Mycoplasma bovis is one of the main pathogens involved in cattle pneumonia. Other mycoplasmas have also been directly implicated in respiratory diseases in cattle. The prevalence of different Mycoplasma spp. in cattle affected by respiratory diseases and molecular characteristics of M. bovis field strains were evaluated. Material and Methods: In total, 713 nasal swabs from 73 cattle herds were tested. The uvrC gene fragment was amplified by PCR and PCR products were sequenced. PCR/DGGE and RAPD were performed. Results: It was found that 39 (5.5%) samples were positive for M. bovis in the PCR and six field strains had point nucleotide mutations. Additionally, the phylogenetic analysis of 20 M. bovis field strains tested with RAPD showed two distinct groups of M. bovis strains sharing only 3.8% similarity. PCR/DGGE analysis demonstrated the presence of bacteria belonging to the Mollicutes class in 79.1% of DNA isolates. The isolates were identified as: Mycoplasma bovirhinis, M. dispar, M. bovis, M. canis, M. arginini, M. canadense, M. bovoculi, M. alkalescens, and Ureaplasma diversum. Conclusion: Different Mycoplasma spp. strains play a crucial role in inducing respiratory diseases in cattle.