D355 - Mycoplasma spp.

Description:

Mycoplasma spp. are intracellular bacteria which are difficult to detect since they do not grow extracellularly or cause significant cellular damage. Mycoplasma infection has been demonstrated to cause changes in protein and nucleic acid metabolism, in addition to interfering with immune system function. It has been considered that M. felis is a significant pathogen in conjunctivitis of cats. Spontaneously observed conjunctivitis usually occurs when infected cats are housed in groups and develops soon after weaning with loss of maternal immunity. The incidence of M. felis in cats with conjunctivitis is 25%, and it is not isolated from clinically healthy cats.
Most Mycoplasma spp. normally appear in the upper respiratory tract. They have also been isolated at necropsy from lungs of dogs and cats with various types of pneumonia but are not generally present in the lungs of healthy animals, especially cats. Also, these are opportunistic organisms normally found in the vaginal canal. In large enough numbers, they may cause infertility, early embryonic deaths, abortion, stillbirths and weak, nonviable pups.

Diagnosis:

Mycoplasmas are often recovered as commensals from mucosal surfaces. To determine whether mycoplasmas are causative agents, they should be isolated from animals with disease in greater frequency than in healthy animals. The DNA test can help to detect Mycoplasma spp. (M. arginini, M. cynos, M. gateas, M. genitalium, M. felis, M. fermentans, M. hominis, M. hyorhinis, M. oral, M. pirum and M. salivarium) in clinical specimens.

Sample:

1. Swab from suspected site of infection.
2. Whole blood (3 ml) in a lavender top (EDTA) tube

Special Handling:

Store samples at 4°C until pick up or shipment.

Test Code:

D355