Isolation and identification of mycoplasma strains from various species of wild rodents.

Attempts were made to isolate mycoplasmas from respiratory and urogenital tracts of 35 apparently healthy wild rodents comprising 7 species under 4 genera. Mycoplasmas were isolated from nasal and oral cavities, tracheas, vaginas and penises of the wild rats: ricefield rats (Rattus argentiventer), roof rats (R. rattus) and Polynesian rats (R. exulans), but none was isolated from brown rats (R. norvegicus), house mice (Mus musculus), smithi's voles (Eothenomys smithi) and soft-furred field rats (Millardia meltada). These mycoplasma strains were identified as Mycoplasma pulmonis and M. arthritidis on the basis of their biological and serological properties.