Mycoplasma from the upper respiratory tract and conjunctival infections in household dogs

Abstract

The study was performed to isolate and detect Mycoplasma as a causative agent of the upper respiratory tract and conjunctival infections in household dogs in Mosul city. One hundred household dogs of different ages, sex, and breed were subjected to the study, including 60 dogs suffering from moderate to severe respiratory infections and 40 healthy dogs in Mosul city from 1/2/2022 to 15/6/2022. Three hundred swabs were collected, including nasal swabs 100, oropharyngeal swabs 100, and conjunctival swabs 100. The swabs were cultured in Mycoplasma media and incubated at 37ºC with 5% CO2 in a candle jar for 4-14 days. Light and the dissecting microscope examined the growing colonies microscopically under low magnification. The colonies were also stained with modified Dienes stain. The results of the current study indicated that respiratory infections were predominant in young male household dogs compared with conjunctival infections in all examined dogs. The conjunctival infections were obvious only in Husky and Belgium dogs. The high isolation rate of Mycoplasma was from upper respiratory tract infections in diseased female dogs more than one-year age 100%. In contrast, the conjunctival infections were more dominant and had a higher isolation rate in less than one-year males. The current study revealed a high Mycoplasma isolation rate in respiratory swabs of Terrier and German dogs, while the conjunctival swabs were positive for mycoplasmal culture in Husky and Belgium dogs 100%. In conclusion, mycoplasmal infections were more dominant in upper respiratory infections in female German and Terrier dogs.