Characterization of Mycoplasms isolated from imported nonhuman primates (author's transl)

Abstract

Mycoplasms were isolated from 35 (16%) of 215 specimens collected from 20 crab-eating monkeys (Macaca irus), 9 green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) and from 9 common squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciurea). All these animals had been imported from South-East Asia, Africa and South America being apparently healthy. A total of 38 large and 20 small colony-mycoplasma strains were isolated from the nasal and oral cavity, urethra, vagina and rectal feces. The large colony-mycoplasmas could be differentiated into 5 groups on the basis of their biological and serological characteristics. Six and 7 of them were identified as M. orale 2 and M. salivarium, respectively. Twenty strains were clearly distinguished not only from M. orale 2 and M. salivarium, but also from such arginase positive species as M. orale 1, M. fermentans, M. hominis, M. arthritidis, M. maculosum and M. gateae. These were divided into 2 groups, comprising 9 and 11 strains, respectively, by growth inhibition as well as various biological tests. The remaining 5 strains were not identified serologically. The small colony-mycoplasmas were found to be urease-positive and appeared to be T-mycoplasmas, while not examined serologically.