Molecular detection of Mycoplasma agalactiae by qPCR in sheep and goats from Bulgaria

Abstract

Contagious agalactia is an infectious disease of small ruminants caused by several Mycoplasma spe-cies with leading role of M. agalactiae. Clinical signs are manifested by mastitis, arthritis, keratoconjunctivitis, abortion, pneumonia and septicaemia often in various combinations. The aim of the study was to tested milk samples from sheep and goats in herds with different health status by a rapid, sensitive, specific method for the detection and quantification of DNA of M. agalactiae. A total of 67 milk samples from sheep and goats were tested by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Thirteen were positive for DNA and 54 were negative. The present study is the first report of detection of M. agalactiae DNA in Bulgaria.

Keywords

• mycoplasma agalactiae
• contagious agalactia
• sheep
• goats
• qpcr
• milk samples