Detection of M. agalactiae Infection in Small Ruminants in Eastern of Türkiye

Abstract

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to investigate the presence of Mycoplasma (M.) agalactiae in small ruminants with clinical symptoms such as milk withdrawal, milk reduction, and discoloration by molecular techniques in the Bitlis region. Materials and Methods: For this purpose, 120 samples were collected from milk, blood, eye fluid, ear fluid, and joint fluid from animals, and the clinical symptoms were shown in the Bitlis Center and Districts. DNA isolation of the collected samples was performed according to commercial kit protocols. Then, a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) step was performed with primer pairs (uvrC) synthesized specifically for M. agalactia. Results: For the uvrC gene region, 36.55% (34/93) of the milk samples and 28.30% of the whole samples were positive. It was determined that all of the positive samples were from goat samples. As a result, the positivity rate determined by the molecular method in this study was higher than the classical methods (isolation, identification). This study is the first study investigating the presence of M. agalactia in the Bitlis region. Conclusion: Further studies are needed to determine the prevalence of the agent in the region. In addition, further studies are required to control and eradicate the circulating agent in the area.

Keywords

• Small Ruminant
• Mycoplasma
• PCR
• Mastitis

References

1. Balachandra D, Ahmad H, Arifin N, Noordin R. Direct detection of Strongyloides infection via molecular and antigen detection methods. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2021;40(1):27-37.
2. CFSPH. Contagious_agalactia.pdf. 2018 [01.01.2025]. Erişim adresi: https://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/ contagious_agalactia.pdf
3. Dawood A, Algharib SA, Zhao G, Zhu T, Qi M, Delai K, et al. Mycoplasmas as Host Pantropic and Specific Pathogens: Clinical Implications, Gene Transfer, Virulence Factors, and Future Perspectives. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2022; 12:855731.
4. Dudek K, Sevimli U, Migliore S, Jafarizadeh A, Loria GR, Nicholas RAJ. Vaccines for Mycoplasma Diseases of Small Ruminants: A Neglected Area of Research. Pathogens. 2022 Jan 7;11(1):75.
5. Ertaş N. Düzey 2 Siniflandirmasina Göre Mevcut Hayvancilik Durum Analizi, Mekânsal Ve Zamansal Dağiliş: Trb2 Örneği. Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi. 2019; 44: 11-39.
6. Göçmen H, Ülgen M, Çarli KT, Önat K, Kahya S, Özdemi̇R Ü, et. al. Investigation of Contagious Agalactia by Bacteriological and PCR Methods in Sheep and Goats. Kafkas Univ. Vet. Fak. Derg. 2015; 21(1): 75-80
7. Göçmen H, Rosales RS, Ayling RD, Ülgen M. Comparison of PCR tests for the detection of Mycoplasma agalactiae in sheep and goats. Turk J Vet Anim Sci. 2016; 40(4), 421-7.
8. Heller M, Schwarz R, Noe G, Jores J, Fischer A, Schubert E, et. al. First human case of severe septicaemia associated with Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. Capricolum infection. JMM Case Reports. 2015; 2(5).

9. Jaye C, Noller G, Bryan M, Doolan-Noble F. “No better or worse off”: Mycoplasma bovis, farmers and bureaucracy. J. Rural Stud. 2021; 88, 40-49.
10. Karatekeli Ü. Isparta ve Afyonkarahisar yöresinde koyun ve keçilerde bulaşıcı agalaksi hastalığı varlığının araştırılması [Yüksek lisans tezi]. Afyon: Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi; 2020.
11. Kızıl Ö, Özdemir H. Clinical, haematological, and biochemical studies in goats naturally infected with M. agalactiae, Bull Vet Inst Pullawy, 2006; 50: 325-8.
12. Leonovich OA. Mycoplasma: Properties, Detection, and Decontamination Methods of Cell Cultures and Viral Strains (Review). Appl. Biochem. Microbiol. 2024; 60(5), 785–93.
13. Migliore S, Puleio R, Nicholas RAJ, Loria GR. Mycoplasma agalactiae: The Sole Cause of Classical Contagious Agalactia? Animals (Basel). 2021 Jun 15;11(6):1782.
14. Migliore S, Condorelli L, Galluzzo P, Galuppo L, Corrente A, Lepri E, et al. First Description of Mycoplasma agalactiae Anatomical Localization in Naturally Infected Hard Ticks (Rhipicephalus bursa). Microorganisms. 2024; 12(7): 1390.
15. Ocak F, Avsever L, Turkyilmaz MK, Turkyilmaz S. Detection of Mycoplasma spp. And Mycoplasma bovis DNA in Mastitic Cow Milk Samples by PCR. Isr. J. Vet. Med. 2023; 78, 3.
16. Subramaniam S, Bergonier D, Poumarat F, Capaul S, Schlatter Y, Nicolet J, et al. Species identification of Mycoplasma bovis and Mycoplasma agalactiae based on the uvrC genes by PCR. Mol Cell Probes. 1998; 12(3): 161-9.
17. Sun P, Fu Y, Wan Q, Yosrı M, He S, Shen X, et al. Complete Genome Sequencing of Mycoplasma bovis Type Strain Ningxia-1 and Systematic Bioinformatic Characterization for Housekeeping-related Genes. Kafkas Univ. Vet. Fak. Derg. 2020; 26 (5): 647-56.
18. Tardy F, Baranowski E, Nouvel LX, Mick V, Manso-Silvàn L, Thiaucourt F, et al. Emergence of atypical Mycoplasma agalactiae strains harboring a new prophage and associated with an alpine wild ungulate mortality episode. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2012; 78(13):4659-68.
19. Uluganligi̇l R. Mastitisli Keçilerde Mycoplasma Agalactıae’nın Bakteriyolojik ve Moleküler Yöntemlerle Araştırılması [Yüksek lisans tezi]. Aydın: Adnan Menderes Üniversitesi; 2019. WOAH. 3.07.03_Contagious agalactia. pdf. 2018 [01.01.2025]. Erişim adresi: https://www.woah.org/fileadmin/Home/fr/ Health_standards/tahm/3.07.03_CONT_AGALACT.pdf
20. Yaşar R. Ağrı-Diyadin bölgesinde Mycoplasma agalactiae’nın koyunlarda seroprevalansının araştırılması. [Yüksek lisans tezi]. Van: Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi; 2008.
21. Yatoo MI, Parray OR, Mir MS, Sabiya Qureshi SQ, Kashoo ZA, Mir Nadeem, et al. Mycoplasmosis in Small Ruminants in India: A Review. Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences, 2018; 6(2): 264-81
22. Yücetepe AG, Saytekin AM, Tel Y, Gürbilek SE, Özgünlük İ, Keskin O. Klinik semptom gösteren tavuk ve hindilerden patojen Mikoplazma türlerinin multipleks PCR ile tanımlanması. Etlik Vet Mikrobiyol Derg. 2022; 33(1), 79-88.