Mycoplasmosis

The Mycoplasma Group at VLA was assigned OIE Reference Laboratory status for Contagious Agalactia in May 2006.

The group's main aims are to:

  • provide surveillance services to detect and identify mycoplasmas in livestock.
  • warn of potential risks from changing disease trends, new diseases or the introduction of exotic diseases caused by mycoplasmas.
  • improve differential diagnostic tests.
  • develop effective vaccines.
  • assess the importance of antimicrobial resistance.
  • support EU Directive 90/539/EEC 'Requirements for M. gallisepticum and M. meleagridis effective detection and identification'.

Achievements of the group include:

  • Identification of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) in Eritrea and Thrace, Turkey.
  • OIE Reference centre for contagious agalactia.
  • Use of autogenous vaccine for Mycoplasma bovis in UK.
  • Use of PCR/DGGE for mycoplasma identification.
  • Detection and identification of the Eperythrozoon species by PCR/DGGE.
  • Isolation of M. fermentans and M. ovine group 11 from sheep in UK.
  • Described biofilm formation in Mycoplasma species.
  • Identification of M. canis from pneumonic calves in UK.