Biochemical characterization and serological identification of mycoplasmas isolated from pneumonic lungs of goats slaughtered in abattoirs in Northern Nigeria

Forty-two (2.65%) pneumonic lungs were seen in 1580 goats slaughtered at three different locations in Northern Nigeria. The pneumonic lungs were screened to identify the possible Mycoplasma species in the animals. Twenty-seven isolates of Mycoplasma isolated from the pneumonic lungs of goats, either alone or in association with other bacteria, were characterized biochemically and identified serologically. The organisms were categorized into six groups videlicet, Group A were identified as Mycoplasma arginini (10); Group B as Mycoplasma capricolum (3); Group C as Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides LC (2); Group D as Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae (1); Group E as Mycoplasma bovis (1) and Group F as Mycoplasma V (10). M. arginini and Mycoplasma V were seen in goats ≤3 years and ≥7 years while M. capricolum was consistently identified in goats between 4 and 5 years of age. © 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V.