The pathogenicity of Mycoplasma organisms isolated from sheep and goats in Turkey

Sheep and goats were inoculated with 6 type N, 5 type A and 2 type C mycoplasma strains. The results indicate that type N strains of mycoplasma are non-pathogenic when inoculated subcutaneously into goats. Type A strains produced the syndrome of contagious agalactia in sheep and goats as it is seen in Turkey, but without the keratitis. The ID50 in goats of a randomly selected strain of this type was 8·6 organisms. Type C strains isolated in Turkey resembled the Razi strain from Iran in their pathogenicity for sheep and goats. The characteristic lesion produced by these strains was a subcutaneous oedema and necrosis at the site of injection.