Mycoplasma detection and isolation from one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius)

• Published in: Tropical animal health and production Vol. 46; no. 7; pp. 1317 - 1320
• Main Authors: Mederos-Iriarte, Lidia E, Poveda, José B, Poveda, Carlos G, Vega-Orellana, Orestes M, Gutiérrez, Carlos, Corbera, Juan A, Ramírez, Ana S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer-Verlag 01.10.2014; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acholeplasma oculi; Animals; Base Sequence; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Camelus - microbiology; Computational Biology; Conjunctiva - microbiology; dromedaries; Ear - microbiology; ears; farms; Female; Females; Life Sciences; Male; males; Molecular biology; Molecular Sequence Data; Mycoplasma; Mycoplasma - genetics; Mycoplasma - isolation & purification; Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae; Mycoplasma Infections - epidemiology; Mycoplasma Infections - veterinary; Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides SC; mycoplasmosis; Polymerase Chain Reaction - veterinary; reproductive disorders; saliva; Saliva - microbiology; secretion; Sequence Analysis, DNA - veterinary; Short Communications; Spain - epidemiology; vagina; Vagina - microbiology; Veterinary Medicine/Veterinary Science; Zoology; Dromedary; Camel
• DOI: 10.1007/s11250-014-0639-9
• ISSN: 0049-4747

In scientific literature, a small amount of information is found concerning mycoplasmosis in camel species. Mycoplasma (M.) arginini, Acholeplasma (A.) laidlawii, and Acholeplasma oculi have been reported to be isolated from these host species. Serologically positive results have been reported for Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides SC type, Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae, and M. mycoides subsp. capri. The aims of this study were to detect, isolate, and identify mycoplasmas from camels (Camelus dromedarius). Initially, saliva and ear smears plus conjunctival and vaginal secretions were taken from five female animals, but only conjunctival secretions in three male animals, all belonging to the same farm. An unknown mycoplasma was isolated from one of the vagina samples. Additionally, another unknown and uncultured mycoplasma was detected with molecular biology in the same sample. In the second stage, 23 vaginal secretions were taken from the same farm plus another secretion from a different one. Ten isolates of the same unknown and previously isolated mycoplasma were detected, nine of them recovered from the vagina of female camels. Some mycoplasmas have been related to reproductive disorders; however, there is no evidence that the isolated mycoplasmas are related to such disorders.