Vaccination of farmed crocodiles (<i>Crocodylus niloticus</i>) against <i>Mycoplasma crocodyli</i> infection

Mohan, Krishna; Foggin, Chris; Muvavarirwa, P.; Honywill, J.

doi:10.1136/vr.141.18.476

Cited by 23 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Polyarthritis in young Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) ranched in Zimbabwe was caused by Mycoplasma crocodyli (Mohan et al, 1995;Kirchhoff et al, 1997). Although M. crocodyli and M. alligatoris are very closely related, as indicated by 98% 16S rRNA gene nucleotide sequence similarity (D. R. Brown et al, unpubl.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathology of Experimental Mycoplasmosis in American Alligators

Brown

Nogueira

Schoeb

et al. 2001

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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Mycoplasma alligatoris was the suspected etiology of an epidemic of acute multisystemic inflammatory disease which emerged in captive American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) in Florida (USA) in 1995. In an experimental inoculation study conducted from April through October 1999, 18 alligators were inoculated with 10 2 , 10 4 , or 10 6 colony forming units (CFU) of M. alligatoris by instillation into the glottis. As early as 1 wk post-inoculation (PI), mycoplasma were cultured from blood of three of six alligators inoculated with 10 6 CFU. Two of those died and the third was euthanatized within 4 wk PI. Necropsy gross findings included fibrinous polyserositis and polyarthritis. Histopathologic changes in affected individuals included pulmonary edema, interstitial pneumonia, pericarditis, myocarditis, meningitis, and synovitis. Mycoplasma were cultured quantitatively in high numbers from trachea, lung, coelomic cavity, liver, spleen, interior of pericardial sac, heart, blood, brain, and limb joints. In alligators inoculated with 10 6 CFU, heterophilia and moderate hyperglycemia peaked about 4 wk PI, and seroconversion occurred by 6 to 8 wk PI. Necropsy gross and histologic findings were generally unremarkable for the surviving alligators inoculated with 10 6 CFU, alligators inoculated with 10 2 or 10 4 CFU, and four uninoculated control alligators. Mycoplasma were not cultured at any time point from those alligators. The findings confirm that M. alligatoris can cause fulminant inflammatory disease and rapid death of alligators.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathology of Experimental Mycoplasmosis in American Alligators

Brown

Nogueira

Schoeb

et al. 2001

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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“…Microbiol., abstr. G-10, 1997), experimental intracoelomic or intrapleural inoculation of Nile crocodiles with 10 9 CFU of M. crocodyli was not lethal (26,27). However, a more recent report associated M. crocodyli with a die-off of hundreds of ranched crocodiles (K. Mohan, C. M. Foggin, F. Dziva, and P. Muvavarirwa, Proc.…”

Section: Figmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Treatment with antibiotics seemed to resolve initial clinical signs, but relapses were common. A preliminary study suggested that a vaccine might afford limited protection in young crocodiles (27). Although M. crocodyli and M. alligatoris are very closely related, as indicated by 98% 16S rRNA gene nucleotide sequence similarity (D. R. Brown, M. B.…”

Section: Figmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of Antibodies to a Pathogenic Mycoplasma in American Alligators (Alligator mississippiensis), Broad-Nosed Caimans (Caiman latirostris), and Siamese Crocodiles (Crocodylus siamensis)

Brown

Schumacher²,

Nogueira

et al. 2001

J Clin Microbiol

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An epidemic of pneumonia with fibrinous polyserositis and multifocal arthritis emerged in captive American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) in Florida, United States, in 1995. Mycoplasma alligatoris sp. nov. was cultured from multiple organs, peripheral blood, synovial fluid, and cerebrospinal fluid of affected alligators. In a subsequent experimental inoculation study, the Henle-Koch-Evans postulates were fulfilled for M. alligatoris as the etiological agent of fatal mycoplasmosis of alligators. That finding was remarkable because mycoplasmal disease is rarely fatal in animals. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of antibodies produced by alligators in response to M. alligatoris exposure was developed by using plasma obtained from naturally infected alligators during the original epidemic. The assay was validated by using plasma obtained during an experimental dose-response study and applied to analyze plasma obtained from captive and wild crocodilian species. The ELISA reliably detected alligator seroconversion (P < 0.05) beginning 6 weeks after inoculation. The ELISA also detected seroconversion (P < 0.05) in the relatively closely related broad-nosed caiman Caiman latirostris and the relatively distantly related Siamese crocodile Crocodylus siamensis following experimental inoculation with M. alligatoris. The ELISA may be used to monitor exposure to the lethal pathogen M. alligatoris among captive, repatriated, and wild crocodilian species.An epidemic of mycoplasmosis emerged in a collection of American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) in Florida in 1995 (4, 8). Thirty-three 200-to 300-kg adult male alligators died, and 13 moribund alligators were euthanatized within 1 month of the index case. Lesions observed at necropsy ranged from mild interstitial and peribronchiolar pneumonia to fibronecrotic pneumonia. Extrapulmonary complications included pericarditis, myocarditis, and multifocal arthritis. Mycoplasma alligatoris proposed sp. nov. was isolated from multiple tissues, blood, synovial fluid, and cerebrospinal fluid of affected alligators. In a pilot experimental inoculation study (5, 6), healthy alligators were inoculated with M. alligatoris strain A21JP2 T (ATCC 700619) to reproduce the disease and fulfill the HenleKoch-Evans postulates (11) for M. alligatoris as the etiological agent of synovitis, polyserositis, and pneumonia of alligators. The results were remarkable because, except for bovine and caprine pleuropneumonia, mycoplasmal disease is rarely fatal in animals.The origin of the 1995 epidemic remains unknown, but the disease may emerge under conditions of captivity. Crocodilians are frequently sold or traded among collections, exhibits, zoos, and ranches. Many collections include multiple species of crocodilians. Some crocodilians from commercial ranches are repatriated after "head-starting" hatchlings from eggs collected in the wild, a potential vector for catastrophic infection of wild populations if lethal disease emerges in captivity. A validated ser...

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“…Some studies have examined the use of an autogenous vaccine for M. crocodyli, but work is still needed to determine its true efficacy. 37,38 Currently antemortem diagnosis is difficult and requires a combination of serology and tissue biopsy for PCR. Therefore most cases are confirmed via histopathology and PCR postmortem.…”

Section: Mycoplasmosismentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential Diagnoses by Clinical Signs—Crocodilians

Nevarez¹

2019

Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery

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Stress and immunosuppression are often underlying factors for many diseases affecting captive crocodilians. Stress has been defined as "a physiological answer to a perceived threat that includes, but is not restricted to, increased adrenal secretion." 1 Stress is also thought of as any event that challenges homeostasis, and likely the response to that challenge involves more than an adrenal response. The autonomic nervous system, the hypothalamic adrenal axis, neuropeptides, neurotransmitters, and neuroimmunologic mediators all have a role in the response of the immune system to stress. 2 Studies in crocodilians have evaluated the stress associated with restraint, long-term corticosterone implants, cold shock, and stocking densities. 3-6 Lance et al. provide an overview of the physiology and endocrinology of stress in crocodilians. 7 Catecholamines, glucocorticoids, glucose, and lactate have been implicated in the stress response of crocodilians. In addition, an argument is made for immunosuppression on the basis of changes observed in the white blood cells. [3][4][5]7 Factors that influence stress in crocodilian and reptile species are reviewed by Rooney and Guillette. 1 Enough evidence exists to suggest that stress plays an important role in the physiology of crocodilians, and it may indeed predispose them to illness. Overcrowding, handling, excessive noise, diet changes, water and air quality, temperature irregularities, and more should all be considered as predisposing or confounding factors of disease.

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Vaccination of farmed crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) against Mycoplasma crocodyli infection

Cited by 23 publications

References 4 publications

Pathology of Experimental Mycoplasmosis in American Alligators

Pathology of Experimental Mycoplasmosis in American Alligators

Detection of Antibodies to a Pathogenic Mycoplasma in American Alligators (Alligator mississippiensis), Broad-Nosed Caimans (Caiman latirostris), and Siamese Crocodiles (Crocodylus siamensis)

Differential Diagnoses by Clinical Signs—Crocodilians

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