Comparison of a PCR-based diagnostic assay for Mycoplasma pulmonis with traditional detection techniques.

Current diagnosis of infection by Mycoplasma pulmonis, an important pathogen of laboratory rodent colonies worldwide, is based on serological, histopathological and culture techniques which can be slow and unreliable. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for M. pulmonis diagnosis was compared to current diagnostic methods. This PCR based technique allows a more specific, sensitive and rapid diagnosis of M. pulmonis from various tissues by comparison with culture and histopathology.