Identification of subspecies and by culture, PCR, and histopathology in pneumonic lungs of slaughtered goats in Mashhad, Iran.

BACKGROUND

A number of spp., often referred to as the (Mm) cluster can produce respiratory tract infections in goats; however, only subspecies (Mccp) is considered to causecontagious caprine pleuropneumonia.

AIMS

Isolation and identification of subspecies and from the pneumonic lungs of slaughtered goats and their association with pathological changes.

METHODS

Lungs of 2000 goats slaughtered at an industrial abattoir in Mashhad, Iran, were examined for the presence of gross pneumonic lesions. Fifty affected lungs were selected for pathology, culture, and molecular (PCR) studies for the presence of species. DNA was extracted from lung tissue samples and replicated using genus and species specific primers for .

RESULTS

Grossly, consolidation and dark red to grey discoloration in the cranioventral to caudal lobes in fibrinopurulent bronchopneumonia and rubbery texture associated with rib impressions on the costal surfaces of the diaphragmatic lobes in interstitial pneumonia were observed. Histopathologically, bronchointerstitial pneumonia in 40 (80%), and fibrinopurulent bronchopneumonia in 10 (20%) of affected goats were diagnosed. The evidence of growth such as turbidity and colonies on the agar plates was observed in 2 (4%) of samples. Genus-specific DNA was identified in 11 (22%) of samples. Of them, 3 (6%) and 3 (6%) of tissue lung samples were positive for subspecies and , respectively, by PCR.

CONCLUSION

Our results showed that subspecies and were the two agents that can involve lung consolidation and pneumonia in goats.