Isolation, Identification and Molecular Characterisation of Mycoplasma Isolates from Small Ruminant Mycoplsmosis of Karnataka State, India.

Mycoplasmosis, the diseases caused by mycoplasma, are one of the challenging and continuous threats to small ruminant farming resulting in high morbidity and mortality and huge economic loss. In India there are only few published reports of mycoplasmosis manifestations in small ruminants. In the present study, attempts have been undertaken for the isolation, identification and molecular characterization of Mycoplasma isolates from suspected respiratory manifestations and mastitis in small ruminants of Karnataka state, India. A total of 300 samples were collected from 180 goats and 80 sheep from different districts of Karnataka, India; 110 nasal swabs, 35 lungs and bronchial tissue, 50 lacrymal secretions from respiratory manifestations, 90 milk samples from contagious mastitis and 15 samples from joints abscess aspiration fluid were cultured on pleuropneumonia-like organisms (PPLOs) media for cultivation of Mycoplasma species. The genus and species were confirmed by genus and species-specific PCR. Further, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis was adopted to identify and classify the isolates. A total of 14 Mycoplasma isolates were isolated using PPLO broth and agar media with slight modifications in the composition, identified by growth pattern and microcolony morphology. Among these 7 isolates were confirmed as Mycoplasma capri, 4 isolates as M. agalectiae, and 3 isolates as M. arginine by genus and species-specific PCR. A purified isolates of M. capri, M. agalectiae and M. arginini was sequenced and phylogenetic analysis was carried out. The study revealed the prevalent species of Mycoplasma associated with respiratory manifestation, mastitis and arthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]