Investigation of Mycoplasma agalactiae in sheep in Kurdistan province by PCR

Contagious agalactia (CA) is a serious disease syndrome of sheep and goats that is characterized by mastitis, arthritis, keratoconjunctivitis and, occasionally, abortion. Mycoplasma (M.) agalactiae is the main cause of the disease in sheep and goats. The aim of the present study was to detect M. agalactiae in conjunctival, synovial fluid, nasal, ear and milk samples in sheep herds with or without CA sign in Kurdistan province. One hundred and seventy three samples analyzed were taken from sheep herds reared in a CA endemic area. Of the samples tested, 130 were positive by PCR for Mycoplasma spp. and of these, 19 showed a positive result for M. agalactiae. M. agalactiae was detected in conjunctival (7/59), synovial fluid (1/8) and milk (11/21) samples. Ear and nasal swap samples were free of M. agalactiae. The results of 60 samples in sheep without signs of CA syndrome showed that Mycoplasma spp. and M. agalactiae were detected in 25 and 6 samples, respectively. Our findings indicate that in Kurdistan province; M. agalactiae was not the main etiological agents of the CA syndrome. Also, this species can be isolated from animals without clinical signs of disease. Our results suggested that milk secretion is suitable for PCR detection of M. agalactiae.