Mycoplasmas recovered from bovine genitalia, aborted foetuses and placentas in the Republic of South Africa

A total of 917 Mycoplasma isolations were made from 4 092 specimens originating from 2 874 cattle in private herds and at AI stations. The percentages of isolations from the different sources were: cervico-vaginal mucus 14,6 %, semen 43 %, preputial wash 25 %, foetuses 3,3% and placentas 15 %. Mycoplasma bovigenitalium, the most common isolate, was recovered from 39% of males, 47% of females, 25 % of foetuses and 11 % of placentas. A wide spectrum of mycoplasmas was present, and varying combinations were common. The possible pathogenic significance of the isolates is discussed.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format

Mycoplasma mycoides recovered from the frontal sinus of an ox

The isolation of M. mycoides from the frontal sinus of an ox is recorded. The possibility that this observation may reflect a true carrier state and be responsible for field outbreaks of obscure origin is considered.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format.lmchunu2014mn201

An outbreak of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia in the Owambo Mangetti area of South West Africa/Namibia : microbiological, immunofluorescent, pathological and serological findings

An outbreak of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in the Owambo Mangetti area of South West Africa/Namibia in 1982 led to the slaughter of 3 153 cattle. The lungs of 266 of these animals were scrutinized for gross lesions of CBPP and samples of lung tissue, sequestral contents or pleural fluid were submitted to the Veterinary Research Institute (VRI), Onderstepoort for microbiological, immunofluorescent and pathological examination. Immunofluorescence proved to be the most successful method of diagnosis producing 96 % of positives, while mycoplasma isolations were only positive in 64 % of the 55 specimens processed in parallel. This clearly demonstrated the value of the former technique in the accurate as well as rapid diagnosis of CBPP. The impression smear technique employed, using Eriochrome black counterstaining proved most satisfactory and easy to interpret. The isolation of M. mycoides was influenced by the transit times and temperature of the samples on arrival at the VRI. No pathogenic bacteria were found in routine aerobic bacterial cultures from 27 of the samples submitted. Complement fixing antibodies were present in the sera of 16 cattle and titres varied between 10 and 320. Animals in which antibodies were absent included those with early lung lesions and some with sequestra.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format.lmchunu2014mn201

The identification of Mycoplasma mycoides mycoides LC as the aetiological agent of balanoposthitis and vulvovaginitis in sheep in South Africa

Clinical ulcerative balanoposthitis and vulvovaginitis was experimentally reproduced in 14 sheep infected with a Mycoplasma mycoides mycoides LC field strain, isolated from the Straussheim Dorper stud. The study encompassed a series of field observations, a therapeutic trial and experimental investigations. A wide range of bacteria and various mycoplasma spp., but no viruses, were isolated from a large number of infected animals.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format.mn201