Detection of antibodies to mycoplasmas in South American camelids

doi:10.1016/0034-5288(91)90072-V

Research in Veterinary Science

Volume 51, Issue 3, November 1991, Pages 250-253

https://doi.org/10.1016/0034-5288(91)90072-V Get rights and content

Abstract

Indirect haemagglutination tests on sera from 757 South American camelids (alpacas, llamas and vicunas) carried out in the Andean region of Peru, revealed evidence of exposure mainly to Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoidesLC. The incidence of detectable antibodies to this mycoplasma in 554 alpacas was 5·0 per cent and in 141 llamas 15·6 per cent. Antibody to Mycoplasma capricolum and the F38 biotype was detected in 0·9 per cent and 0·2 per cent of alpacas, respectively. In a group of 62 vicunas only one reactor to both M m mycoidesLC and M capricolum was observed. No reactors to M mycoides subspecies capri or M agalactiae were observed in the flocks examined. Antibodies to mycoplasma were also detected in nine out of 10 goat flocks tested. The incidence of antibodies to M m mycoidesLC was 13·8 per cent, 3·8 per cent for M capricolum and 1·8 per cent for the F38 biotype. In a group of 110 sheep, six reactors (5·5 per cent) to M m mycoidesLC and one (0·9 per cent) to F38 were observed. The implications of these results are discussed in relation to the involvement of mycoplasmas in existing disease in camelids in Peru.

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Cited by (14)

Diseases of the Respiratory Tract
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Respiratory syncytial and parainfluenza type 3 viruses coexisting with Pasteurella multocida and Mannheimia hemolytica in acute pneumonias of neonatal alpacas
2011, Small Ruminant Research
Citation Excerpt :
Failure of passive immune transfer has been associated with fatal enteritis or pneumonia in this species (Garmendia et al., 1987), however, the definitive etiology of most of the lower respiratory tract infections is still poorly characterized. None the less, serologic studies have demonstrated that llamas and alpacas have been exposed to Parainfluenza virus 3, Bovine Diarrhea virus, Bovine Herpesvirus 1, Respiratory Sincytyal virus and Influenza virus A (Rivera et al., 1987; Rosadio et al., 1993) as well as to Mycoplasma spp. (Hung et al., 1991). In 2004, Victorio et al. reported the presence of neutralizing antibodies to BRSV (80%) and PI3 virus (67.5%) in serum samples of 354 apparently healthy adult alpacas collected after a pneumonia outbreak from 30 different small herders in Cusco Department.
The etiopathogenesis of acute pneumonia, the second most important cause of mortality among neonatal alpacas in Peru, is still poorly understood. The objective of this study was to characterize gross and histopathology lesions, as well as to identify viruses [parainfluenza type 3 (PI-3) and/or bovine respiratory syncytial (BRS)] by direct inmunofluorescence test, and isolate bacteria [Pasteurella multocida (Pm) and/or Mannheimia haemolytica (Mh)] from 24 fatal acute pneumonia cases of alpaca neonates 7–39 days old. At necropsy the gross lesions corresponded to moderate purulent focal bronchopneumonia or severe necrotic purulent fibrinous (n = 13), and moderate to severe pulmonary congestion and/or pulmonary edema (n = 11). Histopathological analysis revealed: acute severe and diffuse necrotizing, fibrinous, suppurative bronchopneumonia (n = 3), acute mild to moderate and focally diffuse suppurative bronchopneumonia (n = 10) and acute moderate to severe diffuse congestion and pulmonary edema (n = 11). Among these 24 fatal cases, 22 yielded virus identification and/or bacterial isolation. Eight of these 22 cases were positive for only one pathogen (5 for viruses and 3 for bacteria), 10/22 were positive for 2 pathogens RSV plus bacteria (n = 7), PI-3 plus bacteria (n = 2) and 1 for both bacteria and 4/22 were positive for 3 pathogens [RSV, PI-3 plus bacteria (n = 3) and PI-3 plus both bacteria (n = 1)]. Among the affected lung tissues, virus was identified 19 times (13 positive for RSV, 9 for PI-3, and 3/19 for both viruses) whereas bacteria were isolated 14 times [P. multocida (n = 8), M. haemolytica (n = 6), and both bacteria (n = 2)]. The presence of multiple pathogens was observed in 14/22 positive cases with an observation of virus–bacteria association in 13/14 of the cases. The coexistence of RSV-Pm was the most frequently observed (6/13) followed by the simultaneous presence of RSV-Mh (4/13) and PI-3 Pm or Mh (4/13). These results appear to indicate that acute pneumonia in alpaca neonates may well result from virus and bacterial interactions in a similar way to pneumonic lesions of other ruminants.
Survey of antibodies to Mycoplasma agalactiae and Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides (large colony type) in dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius) in close contact with an infected goat population
2009, Journal of Arid Environments
Given recent evidence of a possible role of camelids in the epidemiology of diseases caused by mycoplasma species in other ruminants, we examined the prevalence of the mycoplasmas most commonly responsible for contagious agalactia (CA) in small ruminants among the dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius) of Lanzarote. On this island, one of the most arid regions of Spain in which CA is considered endemic, dromedaries and infected small ruminants such as goats and sheep, live in close contact. Specific IgG antibodies against Mycoplasma agalactiae and Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides (large colony biotype) were determined using two indirect enzyme immunoassays in 28% of the island's dromedary population. None of the serum samples tested were found to have antibodies against the two mycoplasma species, suggesting that the camels are not potential carriers of the main causative agents of CA.
Mycoplasma host specificity: Fact or fiction?
2005, Veterinary Journal
Bacteria of the genus Mycoplasma are the smallest organisms known to be capable of self-replication. They only occur in association with animal host cells on which they are dependant for many pre-formed nutrients since they lack many of the metabolic pathways associated with energy production and the synthesis of cell components found in other species of bacteria. It is generally thought that most species of Mycoplasma are very host specific but there are many reports of mycoplasmas in hosts that are not perceived as their normal habitat. Sometimes these “crossings” may have a pathological impact particularly where there may be predisposing conditions such as immunodeficiency. These are often reported in humans but may also occur in animals whose immune or physiological status is not known. This review brings together some of these reported incidents and speculates on their potential impact for laboratory diagnosis.
Isolation and characterization of Mycoplasma arginini from camels (Camelus dromedarius) with pneumonia
2002, Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Post-mortem examinations of 100 camels with pneumonic lesions were made at a local abattoir for Mycoplasma species. Sixteen isolates with indistinguishable biochemical and immunological characters were identified. The biochemical profile of these isolates showed that they were sensitive to digitonin, negative for urease production, glucose fermentation, and phosphatase activity but were positive for arginine hydrolysis. The identity of these isolates was further confirmed by disk growth inhibition test using a panel of specific antisera against selected reference Mycoplasma spp. Based on the biochemical profile and growth inhibition results, the camel isolates were identified as M. arginini. The pathological findings associated with M. arginini isolation consisted mostly of chronic interstitial pneumonia. The isolation rate of M. arginini from these specimens was 8.8%. These results suggest that the role of M. arginini in pneumonia in camels should be explored in greater detail.
Cent chameaux atteints de lésions pulmonaires ont fait l'objet, dans un abattoir local,de prélèvements pour recherche de mycoplasmes. Seize isolats présentant des propriétés biochimiques et immunologiques identiques ont été identifiés. Le profil biochimique de ces isolats montrait qu'ils étaient sensibles à la digitonine, ne produisaient pas d'uréase, ne fermentaient pas le glucose et n'avaient pas d'activité phosphatasique mais hydrolysaient l'arginine. L'identification des isolats a été précisée par un test d'inhibition de croissance en utilisant une sélection d'antisérums spécifiques d'espèces mycoplasmiques. Sur la base des résultats des test biochimiques et d'inhibition de croissance, les isolats de chameaux sont identifiés comme M. arginini. Les pathologies observées associées à l'isolement de M. arginini consistaient principalement en une pneumonie interstitielle chronique. Le taux d'isolement de M. arginini à partir de ces échantillons était de 8,8%. Ces résultats incitent à étudier plus en détail le rôle de M. arginini dans la pneumonie du chameau.

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Research in Veterinary Science

Abstract

References (20)

Microbiological and serological studies on caprine pneumonias

Research in Veterinary Science

Pathogenicity of a caprine strain of Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides for cattle

Journal of Comparative Pathology

Infection expérimentale de la chevre par les souches de mycoplasme de type F38 (pleuropneumonie contagieuse des petits ruminants: un test de fixation du complément

Annales de Microbiologie (Institut Pasteur)

Pathogenicity of Mycoplasma capricolum in sheep after experimental infection

Veterinary Microbiology

Mycoplasma capricolum in an outbreak of polyarthritis and pneumonia in goats

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

Classification of the F38 group of caprine mycoplasma strains by DNA hybridisation

Journal of General Microbiology

The indirect haemagglutination test for detection of antibodies against cattle naturally infected with mycoplasmas

Canadian Journal of Comparative Medicine

Numerical analysis of PAGE protein patterns and the taxonomic relationships within the ‘Mycoplasma mycoides cluster’

Journal of General Microbiology

Subdivision of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides from cattle and goats into two types

Australian Veterinary Journal

Taxonomy of the Mycoplasma mycoides cluster

Israel Journal of Medical Sciences

Cited by (14)

Diseases of the Respiratory Tract

Diseases of the Respiratory Tract

Respiratory syncytial and parainfluenza type 3 viruses coexisting with Pasteurella multocida and Mannheimia hemolytica in acute pneumonias of neonatal alpacas

Survey of antibodies to Mycoplasma agalactiae and Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides (large colony type) in dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius) in close contact with an infected goat population

Mycoplasma host specificity: Fact or fiction?

Isolation and characterization of Mycoplasma arginini from camels (Camelus dromedarius) with pneumonia