- Pathogen:
- Mycoplasma spp.
- Precautions:
- Standard
- Diagnosis:
- Identification requires immunological tests that use specific antisera against each species. Microcolonies have a ‘fried-egg’ appearance in transmitted light.
- Pathogen Information:
- Smallest prokaryotic cells. Lack rigid cell walls but possess a triple layered outer membrane (cannot stain with the Gram method).
- Epidemiology:
- Host specific, found on mucosal surfaces. Surface protein variation is an important virulence attribute. Resistant to antibiotics that interfere with the synthesis of bacterial walls.
- Associated Syndromes:
- Contagious pleuropneumonia, Mastitis, agalactia, Arthritis, Septicaemia, Polyserositis, Chronic respiratory disease, Sinusitis, Synovitis, Bone deformities, Reduced growth rate, Feline infectious anaemia.
- Additional Information:
- Resource: Quinn, P. J., et al. Concise Review of Veterinary Microbiology, John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, 2015.