Occurrence of Mycoplasma bovigenitalium and Ureaplasma diversum in dairy cattle from to Pernambuco state, Brazil

Detection of Mycoplasma species at various anatomical sites of dogs from different types of kennels

This work aimed to detect Mycoplasma cynos, M. canis, M. edwardii, and M. molare in different types of kennels, in addition to evaluating their distribution in different colonization sites. The dogs belonged to different kennels from armed forces (n = 3), shelters (n = 3), and commercial purposes (n = 2). Samples of the oropharynx, genital mucosa, and ear canal were collected from each dog (n = 98), totaling 294 samples. Aliquots were submitted to isolation and the samples confirmed as Mycoplasma spp. were subjected to conventional PCR for M. canis and multiplex PCR for M. edwardii, M. molare, and M. cynos detection. Of the 98 dogs studied, 63.3% (62) were positive in at least one anatomical site evaluated for Mycoplasma spp. Among the 111 anatomical sites positive for Mycoplasma spp., M. canis, M. edwardii, and M. molare were detected in 29.7% (33/111), 40.5% (45/111), and 2.70% (3/111), respectively. No animal was positive for M. cynos.

Evaluation of in vitro Activation of Bovine Endometrial and Vaginal Epithelial and Blood Mononuclear Cells to Produce Nitric Oxide in Response to Mycoplasma bovis, Mycoplasma bovigenitalium and Ureaplasma diversum

Genital mycoplasmosis is a condition present in bovine production systems, and the most important agents involved are Mycoplasma bovis, Mycoplasma bovigenitalium and Ureaplasma diversum. Some aspects of their pathogenesis remain unclear. This study was designed in order to evaluate their ability to stimulate mononuclear cells from the endometrium, vagina and peripheral blood of cycling and healthy cows to produce nitric oxide (NO). Cellular cultures of endometrial, vaginal and peripheral blood cells from 33 healthy cows were cultivated with Mycoplasma bovis, Mycoplasma bovigenitalium and Ureaplasma diversum originated from the 4th passage in culture broth and the NO production was measured by the Greiss reaction. Confirmation of the presence of mononuclear cells and of the agents during and after the NO assay was done by Giemsa stained smears and further cultivation and detection by PCR reaction. Mononuclear cells from all samples produced NO. Mycoplasma bovigenitalium stimulated higher NO production than the others (p<0.05). Endometrial cells produced less NO than vaginal or blood cultured cells. In conclusion, it seems that Mycoplasma bovis, Mycoplasma bovigenitalium, and Ureaplasma diversum are able to activate mononuclear cells and induce the production of NO, thus suggesting that this pathway is elicited in response to the primary infection by these agents. More studies are necessary to verify why these agents remain in the bovine reproductive tract for long periods and how they reassume deleterious effects.

Molecular genetic techniques and oligonucleotides for mycoplasma identification – a review

Control of distribution of mycoplasmal infections in cattle herds is essential in the majority of countries world-wide. Various PCR procedures are available to detect mycoplasmas in cell cultures and bovine mycoplasma in different types of samples. We reviewed some common PCR techniques and specific primers targeted to different bacterial genetic regions of mycoplasma. Several researchers used the same PCR approach and Mycoplasma spp. as a target but their results could not be compared because different primer pairs were used. These methods and primers were first developed to identify mycoplasma species that contaminate animal cell cultures, and then were used by other researchers to differentiate mycoplasmas as a cow infecting agent. Our analysis of the specificity of these primer pairs to nucleotide sequences of five Mycoplasma spp. showed that oligonucleotides have less specificity to them. Numerous commercially available PCR kits are applicable to find mycoplasma contamination in cell cultures and fewer of them can be used in veterinary diagnostics. Although serological and culture techniques are still used, it is necessary to develop a new multiplex PCR technique with a more specific primer set especially in agrarian countries.