A Survey of Mycoplasma Agalactiae in Small Ruminants with Contagious Agalactiae Syndrome in Iran

Abstract

Contagious agalactia (CA) is one of the major animal health problems in small ruminants. It has economic effect and is caused by Mycoplasma agalactiae, the ‘classic’ etiological agent in sheep and goats. The significance of the different Mycoplasma spp causing CA varies depending on the geographic area. This study conducted between 2012 and 2013 on 189 small ruminants with CA signs in the west of Iran, an area where CA is endemic. All samples (milk, synovial fluid, ear swabs, conjunctival swabs and nasal swabs) were examined by PCR method. Mycoplasma spp was detected in 76.2% and M. agalactiae isolated from 16% of positive samples. M. agalactiae were isolated from 7 conjunctival swabs, 15 milk samples and one synovial fluid sample. Results showed that M. agalactiae was found to be the non-main cause of CA in small ruminants in Iran.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjvm.v12i1.20466 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2014). 12 (1): 67-72