An outbreak of Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies capri arthritis in young goats: a case study

Abstract

Brief Communication Mycoplasmas are commonly associated with pneumonic and arthritic lesions in goats. 5,15,16 Retrospective examination of University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (VMDL) case records involving PCR 11 testing of mycoplasmosis in goats produced 77 records, exclusive of the cases described herein. Samples submitted from lung, joints, conjunctiva, genital secretions, milk, and blood were tested over a 13-y period (2005-2018). Of these, 45 (58%) yielded a positive result, and 8 of these were sequenced to identify the species. Detected Mycoplasma organisms were identified as M. ovipneumoniae (5 cases), M. conjunctivae (2), and M. bovoculi (1). None of the M. mycoides group (clade 4) of mycoplasmas was detected by the assay during this period. Over a 3-y period, a caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV)-free, 45-doe, multiple breed, dairy goat herd experienced an increased incidence of joint swelling and lameness in young goats. Results of an initial postmortem examination on a 3-wk-old kid in 2015 revealed fibrinosuppurative synovitis involving multiple joints and pleuropneumonia. Bibersteinia trehalosi and α-hemolytic Streptococcus spp. were isolated. Treatment with florfenicol (Nuflor, 40 mg/kg, every 4 d; Merck, Kenilworth, NJ) was partially successful for other members of the herd. The problem abated during the summer and autumn, but reoccurred in kids born into the flock the following spring. During 2016, 14 of 55 kids were observed with lameness and one or more swollen joints, as well as fever (40.3-40.8°C). Six kids were submitted for postmortem examination during this second year. During 2017, a single 3-wk-old goat kid was examined with numerous swollen joints and suspected sepsis. In total, 8 goats, 1-3 wk of age, were submitted for postmortem examination (Table 1). The farm had a divided system of husbandry for the ~100 goat kids born annually. Male kids were allowed to remain 835243V DIXXX10.1177/1040638719835243Caprine Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies capri infectionJohnson et al.

<p>Contagious Agalactia In Sheep And Goats: Current Perspectives</p>

“…Since the early works, studies monitoring CA clinical features in endemic areas have been scarce 48. Prevalence studies are often conducted without taking into account whether there is or not some clinical aspects associated with isolation of mycoplasmas, see for instance,46,49–52 while case reports are infrequent and often limited to narrow areas 43,53–55. The main trend is that the classical overall picture of clinical CA has changed little, outside a few severe respiratory cases of Mmc infection in goats, initially suspected as contagious caprine pleuropneumonia 56–59…”

“…General signs, such as weakness, pyrexia, or anorexia, that precede focal localizations often go unnoticed in adults whereas they can rapidly lead to mortality in young animals 48. Arthritis occurs frequently in young animals as a polyarthritis form causing recumbence, especially with Mcc 1,48 and Mmc ,54,55,64,68 but only occasionally in adults, where it causes lameness and swollen joints affecting mainly the tarsus and carpus 6963,69.…”

“…Conjunctivitis can occur with Ma and less frequently with Mmc and Mcc 1,48 but is not often reported as it does not affect herd performance. Pneumonia is less frequent, at least in adults,48 but severe pneumonic forms with Ma, Mmc , and Mcc have been described, especially in young goats 13,55,69,71. There are sporadic reports of genital,12,72 like vaginitis, salpingitis, metritis, testicular degeneration, and neurological disorders 73–75…”

Host-Pathogen Interactions of Mycoplasma mycoides in Caprine and Bovine Precision-Cut Lung Slices (PCLS) Models

“…A study conducted in an artificial insemination center in Spain revealed an increase in the incidence of Mmc latent infection in goats [16]. Recently, an outbreak of Mmc was reported in the United States of America [17] indicating the importance of this pathogen and the threats posed regardless of the available control methods.…”