Application of PCR for diagnosis of contagious Agalactia in Khuzestan ProvinceIran

Abstract

DNA amplification technique which is called PCR is a precise and specific test method and nowadays is also used for
identification of Mycoplasma, the causative agent of contagious agalactia in sheep and goats. It also avoids the antigenic
cross reaction and variability that hamper serological methods. Several sets of primers are available for different members
of Mycoplasma such as Mycoplasma agalactia, Mycoplasma capricolum, Mycoplasma mycoides, and Mycoplasma
putrifaciens, which cause the enzootic infections frequently, in some area of Iran, even in Ahvaz, the central city of
Khuzestan province. Several methods for the detection of Mycoplasma such as culturing and serological tests have been
published. These tests would require by making the culture media (agar and liquid media), time consuming about (3 to 5
weeks to grow detectable colony), and even some Mycoplasma species were difficult to detect with these methods. A
specific PCR assay was developed as a diagnostic test, for detection of Mycoplasma infections, carried out for evaluating
47 samples of synovial fluid, milk and eye swabs from sheep's and goats which about 19.1% of them were showed positive
for M. agalactia. According to our results only few samples grew in culture, (8.51%). Use of PCR test w ith high specificity
and sensitivity for detection of Mycoplasma has become increasingly widespread, therefore for a quick detection of
infection caused by M. agalactia, PCR test application is recommended.