Pathological and immunological characteristics of ewes experimentally infected with Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides SC strains isolated from cattle and sheep (original) (raw)

The pathological features of experimental infection with Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides small colony (Mmm SC) isolated from cattle (CBPP strain) and sheep (mastitis strain) were investigated in 16 out of 36 ewes using an intratrachealendobronchial route of inoculation. Animals kept in-contact with infected animals, as well as those of a control group, were also studied. The immune response to two strains was also assessed. Complement fixation test (CFT) and immunoblotting (IBT) used for contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) diagnosis, were performed on serum obtained from weekly blood samples. Only one ewe inoculated twice with the bovine isolate showed hyperplasia of the germinal centres in the lymph nodes and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue in the lung. This ewe also exhibited a CFT titre of 1:160 simultaneously showing specific antibodies to 110, 98, 95, 62 and 48 kDa immunogenic bands. Interstitial pneumonia and thickening of pulmonary septa were observed in 10 inoculated and 6 in-contact ewes. Statistical analysis of the incidence of interstitial pneumonia indicated that the lesion was related to mycoplasma infection.