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Rifatbegović M, Nicholas RAJ, Mutevelić T, Hadžiomerović M, Maksimović Z. Pathogens Associated with Bovine Mastitis: The Experience of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Vet Sci 2024; 11:63. [PMID: 38393081 PMCID: PMC10891550 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11020063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
To obtain improved insights into the complex microbial aetiology of bovine mastitis, this study investigated the pathogens involved in cattle mastitis in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A total of 179 milk samples from cows with clinical mastitis (CM) and subclinical mastitis (SCM), as well as eight bulk tank milk (BTM) samples from 48 dairy farms, were analysed by standard bacteriological and mycological methods. Mycoplasma detection and identification were performed using culture techniques and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 88 (49.2%) mastitis samples were positive for known mastitis pathogens at 32 of 47 farms (68.1%). Mycoplasma bovis was a predominant pathogen (25/187; 13.4%) in the majority of herds (14/48; 29.2%) and accounted for 48.9% of positive CM samples. Escherichia coli was the second most dominant CM pathogen (34%), followed by Streptococcus agalactiae (10.6%), whereas Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most common in SCM samples (17.1%). Other mastitis pathogens included Candida spp. and Prototheca zopfii. Two BTM samples were positive for M. bovis only, and one was positive for a mixed culture of S. aureus and Streptococcus uberis. The finding of various causative agents of bovine mastitis, with M. bovis emerging as the main pathogen, emphasizes the significance of comprehensive testing that includes not only common mastitis pathogens but also mycoplasmas, fungi, and algae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maid Rifatbegović
- Department of Pathobiology and Epidemiology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; (M.R.); (Z.M.)
| | | | - Tarik Mutevelić
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina;
| | - Mithat Hadžiomerović
- Cantonal Administration of Civil Protection of Bosnian-Podrinje Canton, 1. Slavne Višegradske Brigade 2a, 73000 Goražde, Bosnia and Herzegovina;
| | - Zinka Maksimović
- Department of Pathobiology and Epidemiology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; (M.R.); (Z.M.)
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Nicholas RAJ. Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia: A Passage to India. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2151. [PMID: 37443948 DOI: 10.3390/ani13132151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH)-listed contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) emerged first in Europe and then spread to Eastern Asia, including Japan and China, from the Northern Territories of Australia at the end of the 19th century. Its route to India, however, is less well known as there is little evidence for large importations of cattle from Australia. The lack of accurate diagnostic tests at this time meant veterinary authorities relied solely on clinical and pathological signs, many of which were non-specific. Consequently, any diagnoses of CBPP reported in the early 20th century must be viewed with caution. More convincing reports of CBPP confirmed by laboratory tests were made in the 1930s and 1940s in the Indian state of Assam. Eradication campaigns began in the 1940s with immunizations of live attenuated vaccines and then more comprehensively in the 1950s and 1960s, supplemented with serological screening and the establishment of quarantine centres at international borders. The last case of CBPP, reported to WOAH, was seen in 1990, but the launch of a new awareness campaign in Assam in 2002 and recent reports of the disease in Pakistan suggests the disease has persisted in the Indian subcontinent well into the 21st century.
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Migliore S, Puleio R, Nicholas RAJ, Loria GR. Mycoplasma agalactiae: The Sole Cause of Classical Contagious Agalactia? Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11061782. [PMID: 34203625 PMCID: PMC8232315 DOI: 10.3390/ani11061782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary For over thirty years, contagious agalactia has been recognized as a mycoplasma disease affecting small ruminants caused by four different pathogens: Mycoplasma agalactiae, Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri, Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum and Mycoplasma putrefaciens which were previously thought to produce clinically similar diseases. Today, with major advances in diagnosis enabling the rapid identification by molecular methods of causative mycoplasmas from infected flocks, it is time to revisit this issue. In this paper, we discuss and argue the reasons to support Mycoplasma agalactiae infection as the sole cause of contagious agalactia. Abstract Contagious agalactia (CA) is suspected when small ruminants show all or several of the following clinical signs: mastitis, arthritis, keratoconjunctivitis and occasionally abortion. It is confirmed following mycoplasma isolation or detection. The historical and major cause is Mycoplasma agalactiae which was first isolated from sheep in 1923. Over the last thirty years, three other mycoplasmas (Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri, Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum and Mycoplasma putrefaciens) have been added to the etiology of CA because they can occasionally cause clinically similar outcomes though nearly always in goats. However, only M. agalactiae is subject to animal disease regulations nationally and internationally. Consequently, it makes little sense to list mycoplasmas other than M. agalactiae as causes of the OIE-listed CA when they are not officially reported by the veterinary authorities and unlikely to be so in the future. Indeed, encouraging countries just to report M. agalactiae may bring about a better understanding of the importance of CA. In conclusion, we recommend that CA should only be diagnosed and confirmed when M. agalactiae is detected either by isolation or molecular methods, and that the other three mycoplasmas be removed from the OIE Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines in Terrestrial Animals and associated sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Migliore
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, Sicily, Italy; (S.M.); (G.R.L.)
| | - Roberto Puleio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, Sicily, Italy; (S.M.); (G.R.L.)
- Correspondence:
| | | | - Guido R. Loria
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, Sicily, Italy; (S.M.); (G.R.L.)
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Dudek K, Szacawa E, Nicholas RAJ. Recent Developments in Vaccines for Bovine Mycoplasmoses Caused by Mycoplasma bovis and Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:549. [PMID: 34073966 PMCID: PMC8225212 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9060549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Two of the most important diseases of cattle are caused by mycoplasmas. Mycoplasma bovis is a world-wide bovine pathogen that can cause pneumonia, mastitis and arthritis. It has now spread to most, if not all, cattle-rearing countries. Due to its increasing resistance to antimicrobial therapy, vaccination is the principal focus of the control of infection, but effective vaccines are currently lacking. Despite being eradicated from most parts of the world, Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides, the cause of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), continues to plague sub-Saharan Africa, affecting at least 25 countries. Numerous new experimental vaccines have been developed over the last 20 years to improve on protection afforded by the T1/44, a live vaccine in continuous use in Africa for over 60 years, but none so far have succeeded; indeed, many have exacerbated the disease. Tools for diagnosis and control are adequate for eradication but what is necessary are resources to improve vaccine coverage to levels last seen in the 1970s, when CBPP was restricted to a few countries in Africa. This paper summarizes the results of the main studies in the field of experimental mycoplasma vaccines, reviews data on commercially available bacterin vaccines and addresses issues relating to the search for new candidates for effective vaccines to reduce economic losses in the cattle industry caused by these two mycoplasmas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Dudek
- Department of Cattle and Sheep Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, 24100 Pulawy, Poland;
| | - Ewelina Szacawa
- Department of Cattle and Sheep Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, 24100 Pulawy, Poland;
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Abstract
The economic costs of contagious agalactia (CA) to the small ruminant dairy industry are not well known but include losses due to mortality, lowered milk production, spoiled products, abortions and animal welfare problems, as well as diagnosis and treatment. This paper reports financial estimates made in southern Europe, including a study on small- and large-scale farming systems in Italy, indicating that the financial losses are high and underestimated. Furthermore, the current control strategies, including chemotherapy and vaccination, in selected countries in Europe are described. In some countries, disease control is hampered by excessively strict veterinary legislation which discourages farmers and private veterinarians from notifying outbreaks because it leads to the prohibition of milk sales and can result in delays in lifting restrictions. In addition, new European Union legislation may downgrade the importance of CA, which will have implications for international research efforts. Finally, a series of recommendations are provided that cover the proper notification and handling of CA outbreaks, including movement control, current diagnostics, treatment, vaccination and disinfection.
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Dudek K, Nicholas RAJ, Szacawa E, Bednarek D. Mycoplasma bovis Infections-Occurrence, Diagnosis and Control. Pathogens 2020; 9:E640. [PMID: 32781697 PMCID: PMC7459460 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9080640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycoplasma bovis is a cause of bronchopneumonia, mastitis and arthritis but may also affect other main organs in cattle such us the eye, ear or brain. Despite its non-zoonotic character, M. bovis infections are responsible for substantial economic health and welfare problems worldwide. M. bovis has spread worldwide, including to countries for a long time considered free of the pathogen. Control of M. bovis infections is hampered by a lack of effective vaccines and treatments due to increasing trends in antimicrobial resistance. This review summarizes the latest data on the epizootic situation of M. bovis infections and new sources/routes of transmission of the infection, and discusses the progress in diagnostics. The review includes various recommendations and suggestions which could be applied to infection control programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Dudek
- Department of Cattle and Sheep Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, 57 Partyzantów Avenue, 24100 Pulawy, Poland; (E.S.); (D.B.)
| | | | - Ewelina Szacawa
- Department of Cattle and Sheep Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, 57 Partyzantów Avenue, 24100 Pulawy, Poland; (E.S.); (D.B.)
| | - Dariusz Bednarek
- Department of Cattle and Sheep Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, 57 Partyzantów Avenue, 24100 Pulawy, Poland; (E.S.); (D.B.)
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Loria GR, Ruocco L, Ciaccio G, Iovino F, Nicholas RAJ, Borrello S. The Implications of EU Regulation 2016/429 on Neglected Diseases of Small Ruminants including Contagious Agalactia with Particular Reference to Italy. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E900. [PMID: 32455858 PMCID: PMC7278377 DOI: 10.3390/ani10050900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
After almost 40 years, the 27 member states (MS) of the European Union (EU) will comply with the European Law 429/2016 in 2021 by completing a process of unification and harmonization of all regulations related to animal health between MS. These new provisions are based on modern scientific principles on animal health, on long-term epidemiological data, and, above all, on the most current risk assessment and analysis. The paper describes all changes and updates, which will impact the Italian current National regulation. A total of 58 animal diseases have been included in the Annex II ("Listing") and Annex IV ("Categorization") of the new Delegated Act (DA 2018/1629). Five diseases comprising the great viral epizooties were automatically included on the list because of their primary importance. These diseases include foot and mouth disease (FMD), African swine fever (ASF), classical swine fever (CSF), highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), and African horse sickness (AHS). Another 53 diseases have been identified by the ad hoc assessment on listing and categorization of animal diseases developed by the European Food Safety Association. Seventeen communicable diseases of the Order Artiodactlya (sheep, goats, deer, etc.) have been listed including foot and mouth disease, sheep and goat pox, and pestes de petits ruminants. In addition, other endemic diseases affecting more than one species include blue tongue, tuberculosis, brucellosis, and anthrax. There are five categories (A-E) based on the degree of action to be undertaken throughout the EU for each disease. These vary from complete eradication for diseases not normally found in the EU like FMD (category A) for establishing surveillance for diseases like West Nile that present high risk but lack control tools (category E).
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Affiliation(s)
- Guido Ruggero Loria
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (G.R.L.); (G.C.)
| | - Luigi Ruocco
- Direzione Generale della Sanità Animale e dei Farmaci Veterinari-Ministero della Salute Viale Giorgio Ribotta, 5-00144 Rome, Italy; (L.R.); (S.B.)
| | - Gabriele Ciaccio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (G.R.L.); (G.C.)
| | - Francesco Iovino
- Ministero della Salute, Ufficio Veterinario Adempimenti Comunitari UVAC, Via Cavour 106, 90133 Palermo, Italy;
| | | | - Silvio Borrello
- Direzione Generale della Sanità Animale e dei Farmaci Veterinari-Ministero della Salute Viale Giorgio Ribotta, 5-00144 Rome, Italy; (L.R.); (S.B.)
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Özdemir Ü, Türkyilmaz MA, Sayi O, Erpek SH, Nicholas RAJ. Survey of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia in goat herds in the Thrace region of Turkey. REV SCI TECH OIE 2019; 37:831-836. [PMID: 30964465 DOI: 10.20506/rst.37.3.2889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) was detected for the first time on the European continent in the Thrace region of Turkey in 2002 following outbreaks of an unusually severe respiratory disease in goats. Mycoplasma capricolums ubspecies capripneumoniae (Mccp), the causative agent, was identified in many infected herds throughout the region by serological, bacteriological and molecular biological techniques. However, as no quantitative data on the prevalence and distribution of the disease have been gathered in the intervening years, the extent of infection is unknown. Consequently, in 2014, a random sample of 2,400 goats was drawn from a population of over 167,000 goats in the region by multistage sampling. Serum samples were collected and tested by a monoclonal antibodybased competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA). The overall prevalence of CCPP in Thrace was found to be just over 8%. The prevalence in the individual provinces was approximately 18%, 7%, 8% and 6% for Çanakkale, Edirne, K?rklareli and Tekirda?, respectively, while Istanbul province appeared to be CCPP-free. The results showed that CCPP has spread throughout the region and has become endemic, and may pose a potential risk to the neighbouring countries of Greece and Bulgaria. Mccp was regularly detected from lung samples of suspect goats until 2015 but since then there has been no further detection from clinical samples.
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Loria GR, Puleio R, Agnello S, Marogna G, Nicholas RAJ. Can vaccines for contagious agalactia reduce disease progression in infected animals: a preliminary study? Vet rec case rep 2018. [DOI: 10.1136/vetreccr-2018-000715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Roberto Puleio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della SiciliaPalermoItaly
| | - Stefano Agnello
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della SiciliaPalermoItaly
| | - Gavino Marogna
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della SardegnaSassariItaly
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Calcutt MJ, Lysnyansky I, Sachse K, Fox LK, Nicholas RAJ, Ayling RD. Gap analysis of Mycoplasma bovis disease, diagnosis and control: An aid to identify future development requirements. Transbound Emerg Dis 2018; 65 Suppl 1:91-109. [PMID: 29582590 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
There is a worldwide problem of disease caused by Mycoplasma (M.) bovis in cattle; it has a significant detrimental economic and animal welfare impact on cattle rearing. Infection can manifest as a plethora of clinical signs including mastitis, pneumonia, arthritis, keratoconjunctivitis, otitis media and genital disorders that may result in infertility and abortion. Current diagnosis and control information are reviewed and analysed to identify gaps in knowledge of the causative organism in respect of the disease pathology, diagnosis and control methods. The main considerations are as follows: no vaccines are commercially available; antimicrobial resistance is increasing; diagnostic and antimicrobial sensitivity testing needs to be improved; and a pen-side test would facilitate more rapid diagnosis and implementation of treatment with antimicrobials. More data on host susceptibility, stress factors, immune response and infectious dose levels are required. The impact of asymptomatic carriers, M. bovis survival in the environment and the role of wildlife in transmitting the disease also needs investigation. To facilitate development of vaccines, further analysis of more M. bovis genomes, its pathogenic mechanisms, including variable surface proteins, is required, along with reproducible disease models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - K Sachse
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Jena, Germany.,Department of RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, Jena, Germany
| | - L K Fox
- Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | | | - R D Ayling
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, UK
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Yavari CA, Ramírez AS, Nicholas RAJ, Radford AD, Darby AC, Bradbury JM. Mycoplasma tullyi sp. nov., isolated from penguins of the genus Spheniscus. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2017; 67:3692-3698. [PMID: 28895509 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.002052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A mycoplasma isolated from the liver of a dead Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) and designated strain 56A97T, was investigated to determine its taxonomic status. Complete 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that the organism was most closely related to Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma imitans(99.7 and 99.9 % similarity, respectively). The average DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain 56A97T and M. gallisepticum and M. imitans were 39.5 and 30 %, respectively and the Genome to Genome Distance Calculator gave results of 29.10 and 23.50 %, respectively. The 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer was 72-73 % similar to M. gallisepticum strains and 52.2 % to M. imitans. A partial sequence of rpoB was 91.1-92 % similar to M. gallisepticum strains and 84.7 % to M. imitans. Colonies possessed a typical fried-egg appearance and electron micrographs revealed the lack of a cell wall and a nearly spherical morphology, with an electron-dense tip-like structure on some flask-shaped cells. The isolate required sterol for growth, fermented glucose, adsorbed and haemolysed erythrocytes, but did not hydrolyse arginine or urea. The strain was compared serologically against 110 previously described Mycoplasma reference strains, showing that, except for M. gallisepticum, strain 56A97T is not related to any of the previously described species, although weak cross-reactions were evident. Genomic information, serological reactions and phenotypic properties demonstrate that this organism represents a novel species of the genus Mycoplasma, for which the name Mycoplasma tullyi sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is 56A97T (ATCC BAA-1432T, DSM 21909T, NCTC 11747T).
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine A Yavari
- University of Liverpool, Institute of Infection and Global Health, Leahurst Campus, Neston, CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Ana S Ramírez
- Unidad de Epidemiología y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, C/Trasmontaña s/n, Arucas, 35413, Islas Canarias, Spain
| | | | - Alan D Radford
- University of Liverpool, Institute of Infection and Global Health, Leahurst Campus, Neston, CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Alistair C Darby
- University of Liverpool, Institute of Integrative Biology, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Janet M Bradbury
- University of Liverpool, Institute of Infection and Global Health, Leahurst Campus, Neston, CH64 7TE, UK
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Rosales RS, Puleio R, Loria GR, Catania S, Nicholas RAJ. Mycoplasmas: Brain invaders? Res Vet Sci 2017; 113:56-61. [PMID: 28889017 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2017.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Revised: 08/16/2017] [Accepted: 09/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Mycoplasmas of humans and animals are usually associated with respiratory, autoimmune, genital and joint diseases. Human mycoplasmas have also been known to affect the brain. Severe central nervous system (CNS) diseases, such as encephalitis, have been linked to Mycoplasma pneumoniae and ureaplasma infections. Less well known is the sheep and goat pathogen, Mycoplasma agalactiae, which has been found in large quantities in the brain where it may be responsible for non-purulent encephalitis as well as ataxia in young animals. Experimental intra-mammary infections of sheep with this mycoplasma have resulted in histopathological changes in the CNS. The cattle pathogen, M. bovis, has been reported occasionally in the brains of calves and adult cattle showing a range of histopathological lesions including abscesses and fibrinous meningitis. Two avian pathogens, M. gallisepticum and M. synoviae have been isolated from the brains of poultry showing meningeal vasculitis and encephalitis. There have been no reported detections of two other avian pathogens, M. meleagridis or M. iowae in the CNS. Over the last few decades, mycoplasmas have been isolated from the brains of sea mammals dying in large numbers in the North Sea although it was concluded that their role may be secondary to underlying viral disease. Finally, evidence has been advanced that certain Spiroplasma species may have a role in the development of the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE). Invasion of the brain by mycoplasmas may be as a result of direct entry following damage to the inner ear as seen with M. bovis or across the blood brain barrier by mechanisms as yet uncertain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubén S Rosales
- Instituto Universitario de Sanidad Animal y Seguridad Alimentaria, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, C/Trasmontaña s/n, Arucas, 35416, Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Roberto Puleio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via G. Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Guido R Loria
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via G. Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Salvatore Catania
- Avian Medicine Laboratory, SCT-1, Istituto Zooprofilattico delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università 10, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy
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Moronato ML, Ustulin M, Vio D, Nicholas RAJ, Catania S. Diagnosis and control of a severe outbreak of lameness caused by
Mycoplasma hyosynoviae
in a closed pig unit. Vet rec case rep 2017. [DOI: 10.1136/vetreccr-2017-000500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Luisa Moronato
- Laboratorio di Medicina AviareIstituto Zooprofilaticco Sperimentale delle VenezieLegnaroVenetoItaly
| | - Martina Ustulin
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle VeneziePeripheral Diagnostic Laboratory of PordenoneCordenonsItaly
| | - Denis Vio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle VeneziePeripheral Diagnostic Laboratory of PordenoneCordenonsItaly
| | | | - Salvatore Catania
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle VenezieDiagnostic ServiceLaboratory of Avian MedicinePadovaItaly
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Bahir W, Omar O, Rosales RS, Hlusek M, Ziay G, Schauwers W, Whatmore AM, Nicholas RAJ. Search for OIE-listed ruminant mycoplasma diseases in Afghanistan. BMC Vet Res 2017; 13:149. [PMID: 28558768 PMCID: PMC5450338 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-017-1067-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2016] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about the occurrence of important diseases of ruminants in Afghanistan because of the conflict affecting the country over the last 40 years. To address this discrepancy, ruminant herds in Afghanistan were screened for OIE-listed mycoplasma diseases, contagious bovine (CBPP) and caprine pleuropneumonias (CCPP). RESULTS Of the 825 samples from 24 provinces tested for serological evidence of CBPP caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subsp.mycoides, 20 (3.4%) had ELISA values greater than the positive threshold of 50% though all were less than 55%. Repeat testing of these suspect sera gave values below 50. A smaller number of sera (330) from cattle in nine provinces were also tested by the rapid latex agglutination test (LAT) for CBPP, 10 of which were considered suspect. However, no positive bands were seen when immunoblotting was carried out on all sera that gave suspect results. Serological evidence of Mycoplasma bovis was detected in half of 28 herds in eight provinces. The cause of CCPP, M. capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae was not detected in any of the 107 nasal swabs and lung tissue collected from goats in seven provinces though sample handling and storage were not optimal. However, strong serological evidence was detected in goat herds in several villages near Kabul some of which were over 50% seropositive by LAT and ELISAs for CCPP; immunoblotting confirmed positive results on a selection of these sera. CONCLUSIONS The data presented here provide a first assessment of the occurrence of the two OIE listed mycoplasma diseases in Afghanistan. From the results of the testing bovine sera from the majority of provinces there is no evidence of the presence of CBPP in Afghanistan. However the samples tested represented only 0.03% of the cattle population so a larger survey is required to confirm these findings. Serological, but not bacterial, evidence was produced during this investigation to show that CCPP is highly likely to be present in parts of Afghanistan.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Bahir
- Central Veterinary and Diagnostic Research Laboratories, Kabul, Afghanistan
| | - O Omar
- Central Veterinary and Diagnostic Research Laboratories, Kabul, Afghanistan
| | - R S Rosales
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - M Hlusek
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - G Ziay
- Central Veterinary and Diagnostic Research Laboratories, Kabul, Afghanistan
| | - W Schauwers
- Landell Mills, Trowbridge, Wilts, BA14 8HE, UK
| | - A M Whatmore
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - R A J Nicholas
- Consultant, The Oaks, Nutshell Lane, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 0HG, UK.
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15
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Catania S, Gobbo F, Schiavon E, Nicholas RAJ. Severe otitis and pneumonia in adult cattle with mixed infection of
Mycoplasma bovis
and
Mycoplasma agalactiae. Vet rec case rep 2016. [DOI: 10.1136/vetreccr-2016-000366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Catania
- Diagnostic ServiceLaboratory of Avian MedicineIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle VeneziePadovaVenetoItaly
| | - Federica Gobbo
- Diagnostic ServiceLaboratory of Avian MedicineIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle VeneziePadovaVenetoItaly
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16
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Miles K, Churchward CP, McAuliffe L, Ayling RD, Nicholas RAJ. Identification and Differentiation of European and African/Australian Strains of Mycoplasma Mycoides Subspecies Mycoides Small-Colony type Using Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis. J Vet Diagn Invest 2016; 18:168-71. [PMID: 16617697 DOI: 10.1177/104063870601800205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides small-colony type ( M. m. m. SC) is the cause of the economically important contagious bovine pleuropneumonia. Isolates from Africa and Australia have previously been documented to have a fragment of approximately 8.84 kb, which is absent in European strains. A set of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers over this region was designed to identify M. m. m. SC isolates and separate European strains from those of Africa/Australia. Specificity of the PCR assay was achieved through the positioning of an oligonucleotide within the insertion sequence IS1296, upstream of this deletion, which then was paired with a reverse primer, upstream of the deletion, within the 8.84 kb-deleted region or downstream of the deletion, generating fragments of 1.1 kb (all M. m. m. SC strains), 1.4 kb (African/Australian strains only) and 1.3 kb (European strains only), respectively. Identification and differentiation was specific for DNA from M. m. m. SC with no amplification of DNA from other cluster members or closely related species. The PCR products did not require differentiation by use of a restriction endonuclease, and have potential for use in detection of this organism in clinical samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Miles
- Department of Statutory and Exotic Bacterial Diseases, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Addlestone, Surrey, United Kingdom.
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17
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Catania S, Gobbo F, Ramirez AS, Guadagnini D, Baldasso E, Moronato ML, Nicholas RAJ. Erratum to: Laboratory investigations into the origin of Mycoplasma synoviae isolated from a lesser flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor). BMC Vet Res 2016; 12:75. [PMID: 27071385 PMCID: PMC4830066 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-016-0699-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Accepted: 04/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Catania
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, viale dell'Universita' 10, Legnaro, Padova, 35020, Italy.
| | - Federica Gobbo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, viale dell'Universita' 10, Legnaro, Padova, 35020, Italy.,Dipartimento di Medicina Animale, Produzioni e Salute (MAPS), Università degli Studi di Padova, Legnaro, Padova, Italy
| | - Ana S Ramirez
- Unidad de Epidemiología y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, C/Trasmontala s/n, Arucas, Islas Canarias, 35413, Spain
| | | | - Elisa Baldasso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, viale dell'Universita' 10, Legnaro, Padova, 35020, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Moronato
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, viale dell'Universita' 10, Legnaro, Padova, 35020, Italy.,Dipartimento di Medicina Animale, Produzioni e Salute (MAPS), Università degli Studi di Padova, Legnaro, Padova, Italy
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18
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Catania S, Gobbo F, Ramirez AS, Guadagnini D, Baldasso E, Moronato ML, Nicholas RAJ. Laboratory investigations into the origin of Mycoplasma synoviae isolated from a lesser flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor). BMC Vet Res 2016; 12:52. [PMID: 26968657 PMCID: PMC4788927 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-016-0680-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2015] [Accepted: 11/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The role of wild birds in the transmission and spread of mycoplasmas is not clear. Up to now different Mycoplasma species have been isolated from wild birds many of which are not considered pathogens sensu stricto for domestic flocks. This report describes the first isolation of Mycoplasma synoviae in a captive lesser flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) held in a zoo in Italy and the laboratory investigations performed to elucidate its origin. Results showed that the strain was similar to the MS-H vaccine strain using the vlhA methods although no vaccination with this product was used in the zoo. Case presentation This paper describes investigations into a case in which 10 of 12 adult lesser flamingos (Phoeniconaias minor) died after having recently been moved from the Netherlands to a new zoo in Northern Italy. While most of the birds appeared to have died from the stress of movement and poor adaptation to their new environment, Mycoplasma synoviae, an important poultry pathogen in the layer and meat industry, was isolated for the first time from the trachea of one animal presenting catarrhal tracheitis and fibrinous airsacculitis. Genetic analysis of the conserved region of the vlhA was not able to differentiate the flamingo strain from the MS-H vaccine strain. However differences in the sequences of the obg gene of the flamingo and vaccine strain were detected. A test for temperature-sensitivity (ts) gave a ts− phenotype for the flamingo strain, in contrast to the ts+ status of the MS-H strain. Based on this information and knowing that the flamingos were not vaccinated against M. synoviae, it is highly likely that the flamingo was infected with a genetically similar wild strain by contact with infected birds. Conclusions This case provides evidence for the potential role of international trade of ornamental birds as a possible route of introduction of new mycoplasma strains between countries, and moreover highlight that vlhA gene sequencing was not sufficient to discriminate the wild strain isolated from the flamingo from the MS-H vaccine strain. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12917-016-0680-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Catania
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, viale dell'Universita' 10, Legnaro, 35020, Padova, Italy.
| | - Federica Gobbo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, viale dell'Universita' 10, Legnaro, 35020, Padova, Italy.,Università degli Studi di Padova, Dipartimento di Medicina Animale, Produzioni e Salute (MAPS), Legnaro, Padova, Italy
| | - Ana S Ramirez
- Unidad de Epidemiología y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, C/Trasmontala s/n, Arucas, 35413, Islas Canarias, Spain
| | | | - Elisa Baldasso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, viale dell'Universita' 10, Legnaro, 35020, Padova, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Moronato
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, viale dell'Universita' 10, Legnaro, 35020, Padova, Italy.,Università degli Studi di Padova, Dipartimento di Medicina Animale, Produzioni e Salute (MAPS), Legnaro, Padova, Italy
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Nicholas RAJ, Ayling RD, Rosales RS, Myerscough C. Investigation of severe coughing and ill thrift in adult hill sheep associated with
Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae. Vet rec case rep 2015. [DOI: 10.1136/vetreccr-2015-000255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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20
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata Piccinini
- Department of Veterinary Science and Public HealthUniversità degli Studi di Milano20133MilanoItaly
| | - Faye Gosney
- Department of BacteriologyAnimal and Plant Health AgencyAddlestoneSurreyKT15 3NBUK
| | - Gustavo G M Snel
- Department of Veterinary Science and Public HealthUniversità degli Studi di Milano20133MilanoItaly
| | - Mario Vittorio Luini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna26900LodiItaly
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21
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Churchward CP, Rosales RS, Gielbert A, Domínguez M, Nicholas RAJ, Ayling RD. Immunoproteomic characterisation of Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies capri by mass spectrometry analysis of two-dimensional electrophoresis spots and western blot. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 67:364-71. [PMID: 25495903 DOI: 10.1111/jphp.12344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2014] [Accepted: 09/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies capri is one of the causative agents of contagious agalactia in goats. The disease is characterised by mastitis, pneumonia, arthritis, keratitis and in acute cases septicaemia. No vaccine is currently available that has been demonstrated to prevent disease. METHODS This study used two-dimensional electrophoresis to separate proteins from whole-cell preparations and tandem mass spectrometry to identify them. KEY FINDINGS In total, 145 spots were successfully identified corresponding to 74 protein identities. Twenty of these proteins were found to be immunogenic by western blot analysis using a pooled serum sample from experimentally infected goats. CONCLUSIONS Six proteins were found to have a less than 95% amino acid similarity to a closely related Mycoplasma species showing that they warrant further evaluation in development of diagnostic tests. These proteins were a dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, phosphoglycerate kinase, pyrimidine-nucleoside phosphorylase, 30S ribosomal protein S6, ribulose-phosphate 3-epimerase and D-lactate dehydrogenase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin P Churchward
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing, Kingston University, London, KT1 2EE, UK
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22
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin A J Nicholas
- Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Guido R Loria
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi, 3-90129 Palermo, Italy
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23
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Catania S, Rodio S, Moronato ML, Ayling RD, Nicholas RAJ. Outbreak of disease associated with
Mycoplasma meleagridis
in a free‐range mixed poultry farm. Vet rec case rep 2014. [DOI: 10.1136/vetreccr-2014-000107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Catania
- Laboratorio di Medicina AviareInstituto Zooprofilaticco Sperimentale delle VenezieLegnaroVenetoItaly
| | - Stefania Rodio
- Laboratorio di Medicina AviareInstituto Zooprofilaticco Sperimentale delle VenezieLegnaroVenetoItaly
| | - Maria Luisa Moronato
- Laboratorio di Medicina AviareInstituto Zooprofilaticco Sperimentale delle VenezieLegnaroVenetoItaly
| | - Roger D Ayling
- Department of BacteriologyAnimal Health and Veterinary Laboratories AgencyAddlestoneSurreyUK
| | - Robin A J Nicholas
- Department of BacteriologyAnimal Health and Veterinary Laboratories AgencyAddlestoneSurreyUK
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24
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25
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Agnone A, La Manna MP, Loria GR, Puleio R, Villari S, Nicholas RAJ, Guggino G, Sireci G. Timing of activation of CD4+ memory cells as a possible marker to establish the efficacy of vaccines against contagious agalactia in sheep. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2012; 152:252-9. [PMID: 23333193 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2012.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2012] [Revised: 12/19/2012] [Accepted: 12/20/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Mycoplasma agalactiae is a major pathogen of sheep and goats in many areas of the world and particularly in Mediterranean countries. It causes contagious agalactia, an infectious disease primarily affecting mammary glands. Many vaccines against the pathogen are currently under development. The aim of the study was to investigate the involvement of T cell-mediated immunity during vaccination and challenge experiments against Mycoplasma agalactiae. A comparison of the antigen-specific expansion of interferon gamma positive T cell memory and naïve subsets was performed between vaccinated and non-vaccinated sheep to identify cellular subsets whose activation was different between protected and non-protected sheep. Data reported in this manuscript demonstrated that two out of the three vaccines used in this study protected sheep from the disease. In the protected groups CD4(+) memory interferon-γ(+) T cells underwent an early expansion (p<0.05 when compared to unprotected groups), whilst memory CD8(+) Interferon-γ(+) T cells increased in non-protected animals 7 days after infection (p<0.05). γδ(+) Interferon-γ(+) T cells reached peaks of expansion in infected and in two vaccinated groups thus indicating that these cells are not preferentially involved in protection or pathogenesis (p<0.05). Hereby we propose that the early activation of CD4(+) memory Interferon-γ(+) T cells could be considered as a marker of protection from the disease as well as a tool to establish vaccine efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Agnone
- Dipartimento di Biopatologia e Biotecnologie Mediche e Forensi, Università di Palermo, Corso Tukory 211, Palermo, Italy
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26
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Schnee C, Schulsse S, Hotzel H, Ayling RD, Nicholas RAJ, Schubert E, Heller M, Ehricht R, Sachse K. A novel rapid DNA microarray assay enables identification of 37 Mycoplasma species and highlights multiple Mycoplasma infections. PLoS One 2012; 7:e33237. [PMID: 22479374 PMCID: PMC3315567 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0033237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2011] [Accepted: 02/06/2012] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycoplasmas comprise a conglomerate of pathogens and commensals occurring in humans and animals. The genus Mycoplasma alone contains more than 120 species at present, and new members are continuously being discovered. Therefore, it seems promising to use a single highly parallel detection assay rather than develop separate tests for each individual species. In this study, we have designed a DNA microarray carrying 70 oligonucleotide probes derived from the 23S rRNA gene and 86 probes from the tuf gene target regions. Following a PCR amplification and biotinylation step, hybridization on the array was shown to specifically identify 31 Mycoplasma spp., as well as 3 Acholeplasma spp. and 3 Ureaplasma spp. Members of the Mycoplasma mycoides cluster can be recognized at subgroup level. This procedure enables parallel detection of Mollicutes spp. occurring in humans, animals or cell culture, from mono- and multiple infections, in a single run. The main advantages of the microarray assay include ease of operation, rapidity, high information content, and affordability. The new test's analytical sensitivity is equivalent to that of real-time PCR and allows examination of field samples without the need for culture. When 60 field samples from ruminants and birds previously analyzed by denaturing-gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) were tested by the microarray assay both tests identified the same agent in 98.3% of the cases. Notably, microarray testing revealed an unexpectedly high proportion (35%) of multiple mycoplasma infections, i.e., substantially more than DGGE (15%). Two of the samples were found to contain four different Mycoplasma spp. This phenomenon deserves more attention, particularly its implications for epidemiology and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiane Schnee
- Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Friedrich-Loeffler-lnstitut (Federal Research Institute for Animal Health), Jena, Germany
| | - Samuel Schulsse
- Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Friedrich-Loeffler-lnstitut (Federal Research Institute for Animal Health), Jena, Germany
| | - Helmut Hotzel
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-lnstitut (Federal Research Institute for Animal Health), Jena, Germany
| | - Roger D. Ayling
- Department of Bacteriology, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency Mycoplasma Group, Addlestone, United Kingdom
| | - Robin A. J. Nicholas
- Department of Bacteriology, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency Mycoplasma Group, Addlestone, United Kingdom
| | - Evelyn Schubert
- Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Friedrich-Loeffler-lnstitut (Federal Research Institute for Animal Health), Jena, Germany
| | - Martin Heller
- Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Friedrich-Loeffler-lnstitut (Federal Research Institute for Animal Health), Jena, Germany
| | | | - Konrad Sachse
- Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Friedrich-Loeffler-lnstitut (Federal Research Institute for Animal Health), Jena, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Strugnell BW, McMullin P, Wood AM, Nicholas RAJ, Ayling R, Irvine RM. Unusual eggshell defects in a free-range layer flock in Great Britain. Vet Rec 2011; 169:237-8. [PMID: 21873397 DOI: 10.1136/vr.d5430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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28
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Giangaspero M, Nicholas RAJ, Hlusek M, Bonfini B, Osawa T, Orusa R, Tatami S, Takagi E, Moriya H, Okura N, Kato K, Kimura A, Harasawa R, Ayling RD. Seroepidemiological survey of sheep flocks from Northern Japan for Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae and Mycoplasma agalactiae. Trop Anim Health Prod 2011; 44:395-8. [PMID: 21830171 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-011-9952-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/02/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Sheep flocks from Hokkaido, Iwate and Aomori, three northern prefectures of Japan, were screened for antibodies to Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae and Mycoplasma agalactiae by ELISA. Sixty four animals out of 246 (26%) were seropositive to M. ovipneumoniae, with positive results obtained from all three prefectures. None of the sera tested were serologically positive to M. agalactiae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Giangaspero
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Ueda 3 Chome, Morioka, 020-8550, Japan.
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Abstract
The first international conference on bovine mycoplasmosis, held in Saskatoon, Canada, in 2009, marked an official recognition of the importance of mycoplasmas in bovine respiratory disease, mastitis, arthritis and other disorders. Furthermore, bovine mycoplasmosis has been identified as a major emerging infectious disease by the European Community 7th Framework Programme under the EMIDA ERA-NET, which is funding a three-year study into the development of improved diagnosis and control of bovine mycoplasmosis involving the UK, Germany, Italy and Israel. These developments coincide with the publication of the complete sequence of the Mycoplasma bovis genome, which offers fresh insight into the properties of this tiny wall-less bacterium. With this in mind, it is an appropriate time to review our knowledge of cattle diseases caused by mycoplasmas.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A J Nicholas
- Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency-Weybridge, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, UK.
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Xin J, Li Y, Nicholas RAJ, Chen C, Liu Y, Zhang MJ, Dong H. A history of the prevalence and control of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia in China. Vet J 2011; 191:166-70. [PMID: 21439870 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2011.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2010] [Revised: 02/02/2011] [Accepted: 02/06/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides small colony type, was once the most damaging infectious animal disease in China, second only to rinderpest. Between 1949 and 1989, 178,570 cattle died of CBPP, causing estimated losses of 356 million RMB (1RMB=approx. £0.094, US$0.15, €0.11 at 27th January 2011). In 1956, in an effort to control the disease, a virulent strain of the causative organism (Ben-1) was attenuated by multiple passages in rabbits. The resultant vaccine achieved a high protection rate in cattle with a duration of immunity of 28 months. Vaccines were also prepared in sheep to increase the antigen yield and then in Tibetan sheep because it caused fewer adverse reactions in yaks and related species. The last CBPP infected animal was identified in 1989 since when no more cases have occurred. In 1992, vaccination of cattle was stopped. In 2008 China submitted an application to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) to be declared CBPP-free.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiuqing Xin
- National Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia Reference Laboratory, Division of Bacterial Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin 150001, China
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31
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McAuliffe L, Gosney F, Hlusek M, de Garnica ML, Spergser J, Kargl M, Rosengarten R, Ayling RD, Nicholas RAJ, Ellis RJ. Multilocus sequence typing of Mycoplasma agalactiae. J Med Microbiol 2011; 60:803-811. [PMID: 21372188 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.028159-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycoplasma agalactiae is the main cause of contagious agalactia, a serious disease of sheep and goats, which has major clinical and economic impacts. We have developed a multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme using the sequenced genomes of the M. agalactiae strains PG2 and 5632. An MLST scheme based on the genes gltX, metS, gyrB, tufA and dnaA was designed and in total 3468 bp of sequence were analysed for each strain. MLST offers a highly discriminatory typing method for M. agalactiae and was capable of subdividing 53 strains into 17 distinct sequence types, largely according to geographical origin. MLST detected unexpected diversity in recent isolates from Spain, identifying two novel outliers, and enabled typing of novel Mongolian isolates for the first time. Genetic diversity in the sequenced regions was largely due to mutation, with recombination playing a much smaller role. A web-accessible database has been set up for this MLST scheme for M. agalactiae: http://pubmlst.org/magalactiae/. MLST offers a robust, objective molecular epidemiological tool for M. agalactiae that that enables interlaboratory comparison of data.
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Affiliation(s)
- L McAuliffe
- Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Weybridge), Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
| | - F Gosney
- Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Weybridge), Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
| | - M Hlusek
- Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Weybridge), Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
| | - M L de Garnica
- Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain
| | - J Spergser
- Institute of Bacteriology, Mycology and Hygiene, University of Veterinary Medicine, A-1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - M Kargl
- Institute of Bacteriology, Mycology and Hygiene, University of Veterinary Medicine, A-1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - R Rosengarten
- Institute of Bacteriology, Mycology and Hygiene, University of Veterinary Medicine, A-1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - R D Ayling
- Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Weybridge), Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
| | - R A J Nicholas
- Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Weybridge), Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
| | - R J Ellis
- Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Weybridge), Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
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Radaelli E, Castiglioni V, Losa M, Benedetti V, Piccinini R, Nicholas RAJ, Scanziani E, Luini M. Outbreak of bovine clinical mastitis caused by Mycoplasma bovis in a North Italian herd. Res Vet Sci 2011; 91:251-3. [PMID: 21300386 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2011.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2010] [Revised: 12/14/2010] [Accepted: 01/12/2011] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
This report describes an outbreak of Mycoplasma bovis mastitis affecting 45 cows in a herd of 122 dairy cattle in Northern Italy. Clinically, the outbreak was characterized by agalactia, multiple swollen and painless quarters, high milk somatic cell count and unresponsiveness to conventional antibiotic therapy. M. bovis was isolated from the milk samples of all the 32 affected cows tested and from the mammary tissue of three affected cows that underwent necropsy. No other pathogens were isolated from these samples. Lesions in two of the necropsied cows were characterized by mild chronic suppurative mastitis and galactophoritis. The other necropsied cow showed a chronic necrosuppurative and pyogranulamaous galactophoritis, a condition not previously associated with M. bovis. M. bovis was detected immunohistochemically in the lumen of the affected mammary ducts suggesting that ascending infection via the teat canal was the likely route of transmission. No other intralesional pathogens were demonstrated microscopically.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Radaelli
- Dipartimento di Patologia Animale, Igiene e Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria, 10, 20133 Milano, Italy.
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Gosney F, Corrò M, Iob L, McAuliffe L, Nicholas RAJ. Variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) typing of strains of Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides small colony isolated from the north-eastern regions of Italy between 1990 and 1993. Vet Microbiol 2011; 147:220-2. [PMID: 20663618 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2010.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2010] [Revised: 06/04/2010] [Accepted: 06/09/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The origin of the outbreaks of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in Italy between 1990 and 1993 were never successfully traced mainly due to the close similarity of the strains of the causative mycoplasma, Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides small colony (MmmSC) and the limitations of the typing tools available at the time. In this report we examined a selection of strains isolated in the Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions of Italy by the highly discriminatory variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) procedure. Results were analysed for the first time by a capillary sequencer-based method. It was shown that all the MmmSC strains were genetically very similar and all belonged to the same profiles for both VNTR 4 and 5. This suggests that the outbreaks in Northern Eastern Italy, which eventually spread to other parts of the country, originated from a single source.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faye Gosney
- Mycoplasma Group, Department of Bacteriology, Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Weybridge), Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK.
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Catania S, Bilato D, Gobbo F, Granato A, Terregino C, Iob L, Nicholas RAJ. Treatment of eggshell abnormalities and reduced egg production caused by Mycoplasma synoviae infection. Avian Dis 2010; 54:961-4. [PMID: 20608549 DOI: 10.1637/9121-110309-case.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Eggshell abnormalities were seen in the apex of eggs in two of three flocks of multi-age, Hy-Line layer chickens housed on a farm in Northern Italy. Approximately 1.3% to 1.8% of eggs in one flock were affected, amounting to 300-400 eggs per day; the abnormalities resulted in a great deal of breakage and spoilage of healthy eggs. The mean weight of eggs was also reduced. Egg abnormalities in a second flock were less severe. Mycoplasma synoviae was detected in birds from both of the affected flocks by serologic, cultural, and molecular techniques, but not in a third, adjacent flock where no eggshell abnormalities were seen. Treatment with tylosin, administered in the drinking water for 5 days, resulted in an immediate improvement of eggshell quality and egg weight. There was no evidence of infectious bronchitis virus in the flocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Catania
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, viale dell'Università, 10-35020 Legnaro (Padova), Italy.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Blackburn
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Stoney Road, Stormont, Belfast BT4 3SD.
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36
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D'Angelo AR, Di Provvido A, Di Francesco G, Sacchini F, De Caro C, Nicholas RAJ, Scacchia M. Experimental infection of goats with an unusual strain of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri isolated in Jordan: comparison of different diagnostic methods. Vet Ital 2010; 46:189-207. [PMID: 20560128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Ten goats were experimentally infected with a Mycoplasma identified by biomolecular methods as Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri, strain Irbid which was isolated from goats in an outbreak of contagious agalactia in north Jordan and defined as 'unusual', due to its serological characteristics. Two groups of goats infected by the endotracheal route and by aerosol, respectively, were placed in contact with a third group of naive animals. Six weeks after infection, some animals from both the infected and contact groups presented fever and nasal discharge, followed by severe respiratory signs and polyarthritis. Organs were taken from animals that died during the trial or those that were sacrificed at the end of the trial. The results of microbiological isolation and immunohistochemical tests conducted on the organs were compared after a description of the clinical picture and anatomopathological and histopathological signs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Rita D'Angelo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise G. Caporale, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
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Awan MA, Abbas F, Yasinzai M, Nicholas RAJ, Babar S, Ayling RD, Attique MA, Ahmed Z, Wadood A, Khan FA. First report on the molecular prevalence of Mycoplasma capricolum subspecies capripneumoniae (Mccp) in goats the cause of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) in Balochistan province of Pakistan. Mol Biol Rep 2009; 37:3401-6. [DOI: 10.1007/s11033-009-9929-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2009] [Accepted: 11/16/2009] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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38
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Shahram M, Nicholas RAJ, Miles RJ, Wood AP, Kelly DP. Kinetics of substrate oxidation and hydrogen peroxide production by Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides Large Colony (LC) type and Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri. Res Vet Sci 2009; 87:364-6. [PMID: 19457526 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2009.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2008] [Revised: 04/14/2009] [Accepted: 04/17/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides Large Colony (LC) type is a pathogen of goats causing contagious agalactia and respiratory disease, found on all continents where small ruminants are kept. It shares close genetic characteristics with M. mycoides subsp. capri. Substrate oxidation by 22 strains of M. mycoides subsp. mycoides LC from nine countries was compared with that of eight strains of M. mycoides subsp. capri from five countries. There was considerable similarity in the substrates used, but substrate saturation coefficients (K(s)) varied for different substrates. Substrate utilization patterns and K(s) values did not (1) significantly differentiate the LC strains from each other, (2) show any correlation with geographical origin, or (3) distinguish the LC strains from the capri strains. These results support previous studies justifying the reclassification of these subspecies as a single species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoud Shahram
- Department of Life Sciences, King's College London, Franklin Wilkins Building, London SE19NH, UK
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39
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Afshar B, Nicholas RAJ, Pitcher D, Fielder MD, Miles RJ. Biochemical and genetic variation in Mycoplasma fermentans strains from cell line, human and animal sources. J Appl Microbiol 2009; 107:498-505. [PMID: 19302296 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2009.04224.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To investigate the inter-strain variation in (i) substrate utilization and (ii) the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) pattern based on the distribution of an insertion element (IS1550) in Mycoplasma fermentans strains, and to establish any correlation between subgroups within the species and their source or habitat. METHODS AND RESULTS Using a sensitive dynamic pH method, the pattern and kinetics of substrate utilization by a panel of 17 M. fermentans strains from various sources was determined. This study correlated the biochemical characteristics of these strains with RFLP patterns based on the distribution of an insertion sequence (IS1550) with the sources of the strains. The test isolates were divided into four major groups according to the pattern of substrates metabolized. Interestingly, two strains isolated from cell lines in RFLP cluster I failed to utilize arginine. Ovine strains showed distinct substrate utilization patterns and produced RFLP patterns not previously encountered. CONCLUSIONS All strains utilized glucose, but the ability to utilize arginine, fructose and N-acetyl glucosamine varied. There was also some correlation evident between the metabolic data and the RFLP clusters. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY This study has provided a better understanding of the biochemical and genetic diversity of M. fermentans strains from various sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Afshar
- Division of Life Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
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40
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Abstract
Vaccines for important mycoplasma diseases, including contagious bovine and caprine pleuropneumonia, have been used for centuries, consisting mainly of infected tissue or fluids which are inoculated into sites at which the risk of severe infection is slight, such as the tail and bridge of the nose. Surprisingly, little progress has been made in developing safe, defined and protective alternatives, the vaccines today still consisting of mildly attenuated strains serially passaged in eggs or in culture. Ill-defined temperature-sensitive mutants are widely used for mycoplasmoses in poultry despite uncertainty about their mode of protection. Inactivated vaccines for enzootic pneumonia appear to have improved pig health worldwide, but disease reduction has been generally modest. Ironically, attempts to develop subunit preparations have often led to exacerbation of disease, particularly in human atypical pneumonia. Promising results have been seen in DNA vaccine technology, which has been applied to the development of mycoplasma vaccines for porcine enzootic pneumonia, but field trials still seem a long way off. No commercial vaccines exist for Mycoplasma bovis, despite evidence that this is a major cause of calf pneumonia, mastitis and arthritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A J Nicholas
- Mycoplasma Group, Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Weybridge), New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK.
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41
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Ongor H, Kalin R, Karahan M, Cetinkaya B, McAuliffe L, Nicholas RAJ. Isolation ofMycoplasma bovisfrom broiler chickens in Turkey. Avian Pathol 2008; 37:587-8. [DOI: 10.1080/03079450802412590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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42
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Shahram M, Nicholas RAJ, Miles RJ, Kelly DP, Wood AP. Sugar uptake byMycoplasma mycoides strain PT994 andMycoplasma canis strain 85 B97. ANN MICROBIOL 2008. [DOI: 10.1007/bf03175550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
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43
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Nicholas RAJ, Lin YC, Sachse K, Hotzel H, Parham K, McAuliffe L, Miles RJ, Kelly DP, Wood AP. Proposal that the strains of the Mycoplasma ovine/caprine serogroup 11 be reclassified as Mycoplasma bovigenitalium. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2008; 58:308-12. [PMID: 18175727 DOI: 10.1099/ijs.0.65553-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This proposal is our response to the recommendation of the International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes (Subcommittee on the taxonomy of Mollicutes) that we 'write a proposal to classify Mycoplasma bovigenitalium and ovine/caprine serogroup 11 as a single species'. Physiological and phylogenetic comparisons between 27 strains of M. bovigenitalium and Mycoplasma serogroup 11 showed that (i) growth and patterns of organic acid substrate use completely overlapped among strains; (ii) all had lipase and phosphatase activities; (iii) the strains were indistinguishable in their SDS-PAGE whole-cell protein profiles, which differed from five other species; (iv) strains were indistinguishable in immunoblotting of cell proteins and cross-reactivity in ELISA, but differed from other Mycoplasma species; (v) DNA-DNA hybridization did not distinguish between the two groups, and (vi) comparison of 16S and 23S rRNA gene sequences of ten strains of Mycoplasma serogroup 11 and six strains of M. bovigenitalium showed that they shared 98-100% similarity across all strains tested, but only 86-95% to other Mycoplasma species. Strains of the Mycoplasma ovine/caprine serogroup 11 must therefore be reassigned as Mycoplasma bovigenitalium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin A J Nicholas
- Mycoplasma Group, Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Weybridge), Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
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44
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Afshar B, Pitcher D, Nicholas RAJ, Miles RJ. An evaluation of PCR methods to detect strains of Mycoplasma fermentans. Biologicals 2008; 36:117-21. [PMID: 17892949 DOI: 10.1016/j.biologicals.2007.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2007] [Revised: 06/12/2007] [Accepted: 07/11/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A panel of 30 putative Mycoplasma fermentans strains, isolated from various sources including human, ovine and cell lines, were tested by a previously described polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to confirm their identity by amplification of a conserved 206 bp region of the insertion sequence IS1550. In addition, the application of another PCR based on the major part of the IS1550 element showed one or two products of different length (1144 and 1341 bp) enabling M. fermentans strains to be divided into two types designated as Type A and Type B. A PCR, which amplifies the macrophage activating lipopeptide gene (malp), supported the identification of all the strains as M. fermentans. Thirteen other species of Mycoplasma from human sources gave negative results in these tests, with the exception of Mycoplasma orale, which was detected by both IS1550-PCRs based on the major part and the conserved 206 bp region of the IS1550 element. This study suggests that all M. fermentans isolates possess both the IS1550 element and the malp gene. In contrast to the IS1550, the malp gene is shown to be species-specific and the use of a malp PCR described here could prove to be a useful adjunct to IS1550 detection as confirmation of the presence of M. fermentans in clinical material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baharak Afshar
- Division of Life Sciences, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 8WA, UK.
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Foster AP, Naylor RD, Howie NM, Nicholas RAJ, Ayling RD. Mycoplasma bovis and otitis in dairy calves in the United Kingdom. Vet J 2007; 179:455-7. [PMID: 18078767 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2007] [Revised: 10/16/2007] [Accepted: 10/27/2007] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Signs of severe otitis media in 20% of dairy calves on one farm were associated with Mycoplasma bovis infection, based on isolation from the external ear canal and nares. Affected calves seroconverted to M. bovis and no other significant bacteria were isolated. Infection was considered likely to have originated from cows in the milking herd based on evidence of seroconversion and detection of infection in a milk sample. M. bovis infection should be considered when investigating otitis problems in calves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aiden P Foster
- Veterinary Laboratories Agency - Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK.
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46
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McAuliffe L, Ayling RD, Ellis RJ, Nicholas RAJ. Biofilm-grown Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides SC exhibit both phenotypic and genotypic variation compared with planktonic cells. Vet Microbiol 2007; 129:315-24. [PMID: 18191921 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2007.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2007] [Revised: 11/06/2007] [Accepted: 11/15/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Biofilm formation where bacterial cells adhere to a surface and surround themselves in a polysaccharide matrix is thought to be an important factor in disease initiation and persistence for many bacterial species. We have examined biofilm formation by Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides small colony using a simple model without an air/liquid interface and have found that adherent Mmm SC was more resistant to many stresses, including heat, osmotic shock and oxidative stress. Biofilms of Mmm SC also exhibited remarkable persistence and were able to survive for up to 20 weeks in stationary phase. Significant variation was seen between Mmm SC strains in their ability to form a biofilm and the morphology of the biofilm produced with some strains unable to produce microcolonies. Proteomic analysis found that a number of proteins linked to adherence were over-expressed in biofilms compared with planktonic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura McAuliffe
- Mycoplasma Group, Department of Statutory and Exotic Bacterial Diseases, Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Weybridge), Addlestone, Surrey, UK.
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Li Y, Xin J, Gao Y, Zhang J, Nicholas RAJ, Lin Y. Strains of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides small colony type isolated in China between 1953 and 1960 show close similarity to strains of the Africa/Australia cluster. Vet J 2007; 179:137-41. [PMID: 17936044 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2007] [Revised: 08/16/2007] [Accepted: 08/18/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
In this study, six Chinese strains of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides small colony type (MmmSC) isolated between 1953-1960 were analysed and their molecular characteristics compared to those of the African PG1 and Afade strains, the European C305 and 138/5 strains and the closely related caprine M. mycoides subsp.mycoides large colony type Y-goat strain. PCR amplification of long DNA fragments showed that the six Chinese strains, the PG1 strain and the Y-goat strain, just like Afade, did not have the 8.84 kb deletion characteristic of the European strains C305 and 138/5. In comparison, the lppB gene sequence of the six MmmSC Chinese strains was found to be 99% homologous to that of PG1and Afade, but <93% homologous to the Y-goat sequence. The anti-rLppB antiserum reacted with PG1, Y-goat and the six Chinese strains at 67 kDa sites in Western blot, indicating that the lppB gene and its encoding protein exist in the Chinese strains. Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) of MmmSC strains from various regions confirmed that the Chinese strains were identical to the African and Australian cluster. This finding was further supported by the outcome of selective primer amplification. Based on these results, it is suggested that CBPP in China may have originated from Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Li
- National Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia Reference Laboratory, National Key laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin 150001, China
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Al-Momani W, Nicholas RAJ, Abo-Shehada MN. Risk factors associated with Mycoplasma agalactiae infection of small ruminants in northern Jordan. Prev Vet Med 2007; 83:1-10. [PMID: 17881071 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2007.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2007] [Revised: 08/10/2007] [Accepted: 08/13/2007] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Serological detection of Mycoplasma agalactiae was carried out in 104 small ruminants flocks consisting of 18 sheep, 27 goat and 59 flocks containing both sheep and goats in northern Jordan between 2002 and 2003. At least 5 serum samples per flock were tested using an indirect ELISA for antibodies to M. agalactiae. To increase the chances of detecting this mycoplasma, sick or older animals were sampled. A high seropositivity to M. agalactiae was found in small ruminants suggesting a major role for M. agalactiae in contagious agalactia in northern Jordan. There was no significant difference in the seroprevalence of M. agalactiae in sheep and goats at flock level (X(2)=0.14, d.f.=1, p=0.7). A total of 31 variables including production and health management practices were tested as risk factors for seropositive flocks and analyzed using logistic regression analysis. Increasing risk factors for M. agalactiae seropositive flocks were: using outsider rams, improper cleaning of the milking utensils and separating young from dam, with odds ratios of 5, 3, 4.2, respectively; having mastitis problems in the flock was negatively associated (p=0.04) with M. agalactiae seropositivity. Educating small ruminant farmers to avoid the use of outsider rams, ensuring adequate cleaning of milking utensils and separating the young from dams would enhance the health of small ruminants.
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49
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Lin YC, Miles RJ, Nicholas RAJ, Kelly DP, Wood AP. Isolation and immunological detection of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae in sheep with atypical pneumonia, and lack of a role for Mycoplasma arginini. Res Vet Sci 2007; 84:367-73. [PMID: 17662318 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2007.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2007] [Revised: 05/23/2007] [Accepted: 06/10/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae NCTC 10151(T) and four new isolates from UK sheep flocks were compared. Only glucose and pyruvate were used as energy sources by the five strains: glucose was the best energy source for the type strain, pyruvate supported better growth of the new strains. Whole cell protein patterns and antigenic profiles showed high similarity between all five strains. The new isolates fell into two groups in ELISA tests. Serum samples from 30 pneumonic sheep were assessed for M. ovipneumoniae infection and Mycoplasma arginini co-infection. Fourteen (out of 30) serum samples were positive for M. ovipneumoniae both by ELISA and immunoblotting. Twelve antigenic proteins of M. ovipneumoniae were detected in infected serum samples: the antigen patterns were unique, with between one and at least seven occurring in any one sample. All serum samples were designated as negative for M. arginini antibodies by both ELISA and immunoblotting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y-C Lin
- Department of Life Sciences, King's College London, Franklin Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, UK
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50
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Al-Momani W, Nicholas RAJ, Janakat S, Abu-Basha E, Ayling RD. The in vitro effect of six antimicrobials against Mycoplasma putrefaciens, Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides LC and Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum isolated from sheep and goats in Jordan. Trop Anim Health Prod 2007; 38:1-7. [PMID: 17405622 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-006-4334-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Respiratory disease in sheep and goats is a major problem in Jordan and is often associated with Mycoplasma species. Without effective vaccines, control is mainly by chemotherapy, but the uncontrolled use of antimicrobials has led to concerns about the potential development of antimicrobial resistance. The in vitro effect of chloramphenicol, florfenicol, enrofloxacin, tylosin, erythromycin and oxytetracycline was determined against 32 isolates of Mycoplasma species-M. mycoides subsp. mycoides LC (6), M. capricolum subsp. capricolum (8) and M. putrefaciens (18), all isolated from either nasal swabs or milk, from sheep and goats in different regions of Jordan. The antimicrobial susceptibility showed some Mycoplasma species-specific differences, with M. capricolum subsp. capricolum being more susceptible to tylosin and erythromycin. Chloramphenicol and florfenicol were the least effective for all three Mycoplasma species. No trends or significant differences in antimicrobial susceptibilities were observed between sheep and goat isolates, between milk or nasal swab isolates, or between isolates from different regions of Jordan. Some isolates of M. capricolum subsp. capricolum and M. putrefaciens showed higher MIC levels with oxytetracycline, as did two isolates of M. mycoides subsp. mycoides LC with tylosin, possibly indicating signs of development of antimicrobial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Al-Momani
- Department of Life Sciences, Kings College London, London
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