The prevalence of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae and Mycoplasma arginini in the respiratory tract of sheep

Authors: Quinlan JR, Clarke JK, Alley MR
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 23, Issue 7, pp 137-141, Jul 1975
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant, Sheep
Subject Terms: Bacterial, Notifiable organisms/exotic disease, Disease/defect, Infectious disease, Pneumonia/pleurisy, Respiratory system
Article class: Scientific Article

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Abstract: In an initial study of mycoplasmas of the respiratolry tract of New Zealand sheep a number of strains of mycoplasma were recovered and identified as either M. ovipneumoniae or M. arginini (Clarke et al 1974). Investigations in Australia have produced evidence that M. ovipneumoniae is associated with a proliferative interstitial pneumonia in Queensland sheep (Sullivan et al 1973) and for this reason the present survey was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of mycoplasmas in the respiratory tract of sheep in New Zealand. In view of the possible association of mycoplasma with chronic pneumonia, the survey was conducted on 6- to 9-month-old lambs slaughtered during the autumn months because chronic pneumonia is prevalent in such animals. The initial work was extended to cover the following autumn so that the titre of M. ovipneumoniae present in the lungs could be estimated and the lungs examined would include specimens from a wide range of pneumonic lesions.

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