Characterization of Mycoplasma Isolated From an Ibex (Capra Ibex) Suffering From Keratoconjunctivitis in Northern Italy

Abstract

ABSTRACT:In 2005 a Mycoplasma species was isolated from ocular-conjunctival swabs from an adult male Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) from the Valle d'Aosta Region, Northern Italy. The animal suffered from bilateral ocular discharge with diffuse inflammation, severe corneal involvement of the left eye and mild corneal opacity of the right eye. Histologic examination revealed a keratoconjunctivitis characterized by lymphocytic and plasmacellular infiltration. Laboratory investigations of the isolate included culture, transmission electron microscopy, PCR, and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, as well as DNA sequencing of the 16S rDNA gene. These tests identified the isolate as Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri large-colony serovar, an organism that has occasionally been associated with keratoconjunctivitis in goats. For a correct diagnosis, it is necessary to carry out laboratory investigations, as clinical cases of keratoconjunctivitis in wild ruminants are not always ascribable to Mycoplasma conjunctivae.

Identification and Characterization of Mycoplasma feriruminatoris sp. nov. Strains Isolated from Alpine Ibex: A 4th Species in the Mycoplasma mycoides Cluster Hosted by Non-domesticated Ruminants?

“…This is the first report of M. feriruminatoris presence in wild Alpine ibex in France. We also demonstrated that a previously unidentified isolate collected in Valle d'Aosta (Italy) from an Alpine ibex with severe conjunctivitis, namely 283F08 (Giangaspero et al, 2010), belongs to the M. feriruminatoris species on the basis of its fusA sequence.…”

“…A specific PCR assay was developed to allow rapid and accurate discrimination of this new member of the M. mycoides cluster, for which both PCR/DGGE and MF-dot identification had failed (Giangaspero et al, 2010; Tardy et al, 2012). DNA sequences putatively specific to G5847 T were identified in the Molligen database using the “Comparative Differential query” Toolbox.…”

“…by A. Breard in CIRAD (Manso-Silvan et al, 2007). Another unidentified mycoplasma strain (283F08) isolated from a Capra ibex suffering from keratoconjunctivitis in northern Italy (Valle d'Aosta) was kindly provided by Prof. M. Giangaspero and Dr. R. Ayling (Giangaspero et al, 2010). …”

“…nov. a very intriguing new species. Although it has not yet been reported from many countries, mycoplasma species from wild ruminants have been regularly described in different countries that have remained unidentified due to the time and cost required for a specific mycoplasma diagnosis (Nicolas et al, 2005; Gonzalez-Candela et al, 2007; Giangaspero et al, 2010). In the study by Gonzalez-Candela, unassigned mycoplasma species represented up to 6.2% of 321 sampled Spanish ibex (Gonzalez-Candela et al, 2007).…”

“…Both M. feriruminatoris G5847 type strain and 8756-C13 Rocky Mountain strain were included as controls (Manso-Silvan et al, 2007; Jores et al, 2013). Another strain, namely 283F08, isolated in Italy in 2005 from a severe keratoconjunctivitis case in an Alpine ibex, and identified as an atypical Mmc was also included in the study (Giangaspero et al, 2010). Comprehensive phylogenetic analyses were performed to accurately determine the taxonomic position of the ibex isolates with respect to the M. mycoides cluster and a specific PCR assay was developped.…”