A complement fixation test for the detection of Eperythrozoon infection in sheep

Review of clinical aspects, epidemiology and diagnosis of haemotropic Mycoplasma ovis in small ruminants: current status and future perspectives in tropics focusing on Malaysia

Mycoplasma ovis (formerly Eperythrozoon ovis) is an epierythrocytic parasitic bacterium of small ruminants known as haemotropic mycoplasma, which is transmitted mechanically by biting flies and contaminated instruments. Acute mycoplasmosis causes severe haemolytic anaemia and mortality in young animals. At the same time, chronic disease may produce mild anaemia and varying degrees of morbidity depending on several factors, including age, reproductive status, the plane of nutrition, immunological status and the presence of concurrent infection. Haemotropic Mycoplasma ovis is currently recognised as an emerging zoonotic pathogen which is widely distributed in the sheep and goat producing areas of tropics and subtropics, where the disease is nearly endemic. Human infection has been reported in pregnant women, immunocompromised patients and people exposed to animals and arthropods. The current diagnosis of haemoplasma relies on microscopic evaluation of Giemsa-stained blood smear and PCR. Although there are few published reports on the incidence of haemotropic Mycoplasma ovis infection of small ruminants in Malaysia, information on its prevalence, risk factors, severity and economic impacts is grossly inadequate. Therefore, a large-scale survey of small ruminant flocks is necessary to elucidate the current seroprevalence status and molecular characteristics of haemotropic M. ovis infection in Malaysia using ELISA and PCR sequencing technologies. In the future, surveillance programs, including vector forecast, quarantine, monitoring by periodic surveys and public enlightenment, will limit the internal and transboundary spread of M. ovis, enhance control efforts and mitigate production losses in Malaysia.

A cross-sectional study to show Eperythrozoon ovis infection is prevalent in Western Australian sheep farms

A serological survey and risk factor study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of Eperythrozoon ovis infection in Western Australian weaner sheep, the prevalence of farms with infected sheep, and to identify factors affecting initiation and maintenance of infection on the farm. The study was conducted on 91 farms, purposively chosen from 41 randomly selected regional shires stratified by sheep number and rainfall zones. Twenty sheep were selected systematically from a mixed-sex flock on each farm and tested for serum antibody to E ovis using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Information on putative risk factors was collected using an interview questionnaire. Antibody to E ovis was detected in 4.5% of sheep on 47% of the farms sampled. The prevalence of E ovis infection in sheep was estimated at the 95% confidence level to be between 3.6 and 5.5%, and the prevalence of farms with infected sheep was estimated to be between 37.5 and 56.5%. Most farms with serological evidence of infection occurred in the Great Southern agricultural region (79.5%), south-east of Perth through to Albany (latitude 32 to 34 degrees S, longitude 116 to 120 degrees E), and in the Northern region (12.8%) surrounding Geraldton (latitude 29 degrees S, longitude 114 degrees E). There were significantly more farms (P less than 0.05) with evidence of infection in the Great Southern region compared to the Central region between Geraldton and Perth, and on farms in the region south compared to north of latitude 32 degrees S. None of the putative risk factors examined in the questionnaire were associated with serological evidence of infection on the farm.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A modified indirect immunofluorescent assay for the detection of antibody to Eperythrozoon ovis in sheep

Experimental ovine eperythrozoonosis was studied using Giemsa staining of blood films and a modified indirect immunofluorescent antibody assay (IFAA). The serums of 21 Border Leicester Merino cross lambs between 12 weeks and 7 months-of-age were analysed before and after infection with Eperythrozoon ovis (E. ovis) using the IFAA test. No rise in the IFAA titre was seen until day 7 and this coincided with the first detection of E. ovis organisms in blood smears stained with Giemsa. The percentage of E. ovis infected red blood cells peaked on day 14, but the IFAA titre did not peak until day 35. Titres to E. ovis, on average, had begun to drop by day 63. There was considerable individual variation in response to E. ovis infection as measured by the IFAA. Titres as high as 6,400 were observed in individual sheep at the peak of E. ovis parasitaemia of red cells. One sheep had a titre of 51,200 nineteen days after infection, and titres of 3,000 were maintained for several months in a few sheep. The assay proved reliable, and up to 100 samples per day could be tested. The antigenicity of the slide preparations was found to be satisfactory after storage for 6 months at -20 degrees C and 4 degrees C and for 28 months at -70 degrees C. Temperature fluctuations during storage rendered slides unsuitable for the IFAA after these times. A method of storing E. ovis infected blood in liquid nitrogen is described.

The protection of lambs from eperythrozoon infection while suckling Eperythrozoon ovis carrier ewes

When lambs born to and suckling Eperythrozoon ovis carrier ewes were inoculated with heparinised blood containing large numbers of E. ovis organisms, the lambs were either sterilised of the infection or patent infection was suppressed till the lambs were weaned. In vitro infection, transplacental transfer of antibodies or soluble antigens could not be demonstrated.