Field Isolation of Mycoplasma capripneumoniae in Central Zone of Tanzania

An investigation was done on outbreak of acute respiratory disease in goats in Central zone of Tanzania, the investigation involved 3 districts. (Mpwapwa, Dodoma and Kilosa districts). The study involved goats from the field, livestock markets and abattoirs. Samples from clinical and pathological examination of goats with respiratory distress were subjected to microbiological and molecular analysis. A total of 96 lungs samples, 96 lymph node and 59 pleural fluids were collected for microbiological and molecular evaluation. Media used were Hayflick’s medium (H25P) and commercial freeze-dried diagnostic medium for mycoplasma isolation, blood and MacConkey agar for bacteria other than mycoplasma. Mycoplasma isolates were confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Restriction Enzyme Analysis (REA). Mycoplasma capripneumoniae was isolated from 47 samples and Pasteurella multocida from 13 samples. Eighty one samples subjected to molecular analysis were positive for M. capripneumoniae. M. capripneumoniae was isolated from samples collected from all the study districts. The results of this study indicate that outbreaks of respiratory disease in the study areas were predominantly due to contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP). This provides additional information on the distribution of the disease in the country. The results of PCR/REA demonstrate the usefulness of this diagnostic technique in the investigation of field outbreaks of CCPP even when isolation of the causative agent is not possible. The isolation and identification of M. capripneumoniae in central zone confirm the presence of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia in the zone.