Prevalence of Mycoplasma Capricolum Subspecies Capricolum and Mycoplasma Putrefaciens in Goats in Pishin District of Balochistan

Several Mycoplasma species cause serious and economically important diseases in goats world-wide. Forty goat flocks in the Pishin district of Balochistan province of Pakistan were examined for the clinical cases of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) during 2008. Thirty goats suspected for CCPP on the basis of respiratory symptoms were euthanized for post mortem examination, microbiological and molecular studies. Two types of Mycoplasma species were isolated and identified by biochemical and growth inhibition (GI) tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Mycoplasma capricolum subspecies capricolum was isolated from 12(40%) of the nasal swabs and 12(40%) of the respective lung cultures, whereas 2(6.7%) Mycoplasma putrefaciens (Mp) isolates from nasal swab and lung cultures and 1(3.3%) from liver and intestine cultures were recovered. We report probably for the very first time the isolation and identification of Mycoplasma capricolum subspecies capricolum (Mcc) and Mp from the nasal swabs and lungs of goats with respiratory problems in Pishin district of Balochistan. Experimental studies to reproduce pneumonia or pleuropneumonia by Mcc and Mp organisms in susceptible goats or other laboratory animal models are further needed.