Isolation and identification of mycoplasmas from the respiratory tract of sheep in New Zealand

Abstract

Extract Chronic pneiamonia is one of the most prevalent diseases of sheep in New Zealand and it is generally believed to be of considerable economic importance although its aetiology is uncertain. In an Australian study of ovine pneumonia St. George et al. (1971) St. George, T. D. , Sullivan, N. D. , Love, J. A. and Horsfall, N. 1971. Experimental transmission of pneumonia in sheep with a mycoplasma isolated from pneumonic sheep lung. Aust. vet. J., 47: 282–283. [Google Scholar] described the transmission of this disease using a mycoplasma recovered from sheep lung, and subsequently Carmichael et al. (1972) Carmichael, L. E. , St. George, T. D. , Sullivan, N. D. and Horsfall, N. 1972. Isolation, propagation and characterization studies of an ovine mycoplasma responsible for proliferative interstitial pneumonia. Cornell Vet., 62: 654–679. [Google Scholar] suggested the name Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae for the organism involved. Although it cannot be assumed that the disease transmitted to Australian sheep is the same as the natural disease in New Zealand sheep, it is, nevertheless, import ant to know if mycoplasmas are commonly present in the respiratory tract of sheep in New Zealand.