Abstract:
Respiratory diseases are a major cause of death in goat kids and decreased productivity in older
goats. Several Mycoplasma species cause respiratory diseases in goats. Respiratory Mycoplasma
infections have not been reported in Sri Lankan goats. However, previous studies have reported
relatively high prevalence of respiratory Mycoplasma infection among goats in neighboring
countries. The highest incidence was reported in Pakistan (20%) followed by India and
Bangladesh (8%). PCR is a rapid and simple method of detection and identification of the
Mycoplasma species. The present study investigated the occurrence of Mycoplasma in goats
using randomly selected lung samples obtained from Colombo municipal slaughterhouse using
PCR. A total of 36 lung samples obtained from the slaughterhouse along with one sample from a
goat that died of atypical pneumonia were used in this study. The DNA was extracted using
DNeasy blood and tissue DNA extraction kit (Qiagen) according to manufacturer’s instructions
and PCR was performed using genus-specific primers for Mycoplasma and species-specific
primers for Mycoplasma arginini, Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae and Mycoplasma mycoides
subspecies capri according to previously described protocols. It was observed that 63.8%
(23/36) of the samples were positive for Mycoplasma genus. The clinical case was also positive
for Mycoplasma genus. This study has provided preliminary evidence for the presence of
Mycoplasma from respiratory tract of goats in Sri Lanka. Further studies are necessary to
identify specific pathogenic Mycoplasma spp. causing respiratory infections in Sri Lankan goats.