Molecular Prevalence of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae in Small Ruminants in Tamil Nadu, India

Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (M. ovipneumoniae) causes atypical, non-progressive pneumonia in sheep and goats, leading to significant economic losses in the global small-ruminant industry. In the current study, we assessed the molecular prevalence of M. ovipneumoniae infections in sheep and goats showing respiratory Clinical signs in Tamil Nadu, India.During the period from January 2023 to March 2024, a total of 200 samples (186 nasal swabs and 14 lung tissue samples) were collected from sheep and goats exhibited typical respiratory signs reared in various districts of Tamil Nadu. The growth of mycoplasma on cultures indicated by a color change in Mycoplasma experience liquid media, were used for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay targeting the 16S rRNA gene of the Mycoplasma genus and M. ovipneumoniae specifically. The results showed that 78 out of 200 samples (39%) tested positive in the 16S rRNA Mycoplasma genus-specific PCR test, with an overall positivity rate of 30% for M. ovipneumoniae.This study revealed that M. ovipneumoniae is the most common Mycoplasma species found in sheep and goats with respiratory infections in Tamil Nadu.