SHORT COMMUNICATION
ISOLATION OF MYCOPLASMAS FROM PORCINE RECTAL SWABS BY
R. N.
GouRLAY AND
S.
G. WYLD
A.R.C. Institute for Research on Animal D iseases, Compton, Newbury, Berkshire SUMMARY
Three strains of an apparently new species of mycloplasma have been isolated from rectal swabs taken from pork weight pigs. INTRODUCTION
Following our recent report on the isolation of an apparently new species of mycoplasma from the intestinal tract and faeces of cattle (Gourlay & Wyld, I975) we examined rectal swabs from nine pork weight pigs and two sows for the presence of similar mycoplasmas. MATERIALS AND METHODS
The materials and methods used were as previously described (Gourlay & Wyld, I975)· RESULTS
From three rectal swabs mycoplasmas, which subsequently proved to be 10\ 10 2 and 10 4 respectively. From three other swabs slow growing mycoplasmas were isolated at titres of :::> I o4 • These strains were cloned by picking, on three successive occasions, single colonies cultured from Millipore membrane filtrates (450 nm pore diameter) of broth cultures. These cloned strains were found to have similar properties and appear to belong to a new species of mycoplasma. One of these strains (strain Mayfield) was examined in detail. The Mayfield strain had biological and biochemical properties very similar to those described for the !Isley strain of mycoplasma isolated from cattle (Gourlay & Wyld, I975) but grew slightly faster in U3 broth (Howard et al., I975) and on solid U3 medium. Electron microscopic examination revealed typical mycoplasma structures, bounded by a triple-layered unit membrane. Club-shaped forms were visible but terminal structures were not as distinct as those seen in the Ilsley strain. Colonies of the Mayfield strain did not show fluorescence with antiserum to the Ilsley strain in the indirect immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) test, nor Acheloplasma laidlawii, were isolated at titres of
ISOLATION OF MYCOPLASMAS FROM PIGS
was jnhibition produced in the growth inhibition (GI) and metabolism inhibition (MI) tests by this antiserum. The IF A and G I tests were also negative when tested with antisera to the following mycoplasmas: Mycoplasma bovirhinis, M. bovigenitalium, M. agalactiae subsp. bovis, M. dispar, M. bovoculi, M . verecundum, M. pneumoniae, M. gallisepticum, M. jermentans, M. pulmonis, M. hyorhinis, M. arginini and M. alkalescens. In addition the IFA test was negative to the following antisera: M. suipneumoniae, M. felis, M. rteurolyticum, M. canis, M. synoviae, M. anatis, M. mycoides subsp. capri, M. agalactiae subsp. agalactiae, A. laidlawii, A. granularum and A. axanthum. Dr R. H. Leach, Mycoplasma Reference Laboratory, Colindale, London, reported that the Mayfield strain did not cross react in the MI test with antisera to all the above mentioned species as well as Mycoplasma sp. bovine group 7, A. modicum, Mycoplasma sp. 466, M. mycoides subsp. mycoides, A. oculi, M. conJunctivae, M. hominis, M. orale, M. buccale, M. salivarium, M. primatum, M. neurolyticum, M. maculosum, M. spumans, M. gateae, M. gallinarum, M. iners, M. meleagridis, M. hyosynoviae, M. capricolum, M. ovipneumoniae and M. equirhinis. Antiserum prepared to the Mayfield strain gave positive reactions in the IF A and GI tests against the homologous organism and against the other two pig isolates. DISCUSSION
It seems likely that the Mayfield strain and the other two isolates from the rectum of pigs are members of a new species of mycoplasma. However, before this can be confirmed it is necessary to characterize them fully and to examine more closely their relationship, if any, with similar mycoplasmas that have r ecently been isolated from cattle. REFERENCES GOURLAY, R. N. & WYLD, S. G. (1975) . HOWARD, C. j . BROWNLIE,j., GOURLAY,
Vet. Rec. 97, 370. R. N., & COLLINS, (1975). J. Hyg., Camb.
(Accepted for publication
22
April 1976)
74,261.
ISOLATION OF MYCOPLASMAS FROM PORCINE RECTAL SWABS BY
R. N.
GouRLAY AND
S.
G. WYLD
A.R.C. Institute for Research on Animal D iseases, Compton, Newbury, Berkshire SUMMARY
Three strains of an apparently new species of mycloplasma have been isolated from rectal swabs taken from pork weight pigs. INTRODUCTION
Following our recent report on the isolation of an apparently new species of mycoplasma from the intestinal tract and faeces of cattle (Gourlay & Wyld, I975) we examined rectal swabs from nine pork weight pigs and two sows for the presence of similar mycoplasmas. MATERIALS AND METHODS
The materials and methods used were as previously described (Gourlay & Wyld, I975)· RESULTS
From three rectal swabs mycoplasmas, which subsequently proved to be 10\ 10 2 and 10 4 respectively. From three other swabs slow growing mycoplasmas were isolated at titres of :::> I o4 • These strains were cloned by picking, on three successive occasions, single colonies cultured from Millipore membrane filtrates (450 nm pore diameter) of broth cultures. These cloned strains were found to have similar properties and appear to belong to a new species of mycoplasma. One of these strains (strain Mayfield) was examined in detail. The Mayfield strain had biological and biochemical properties very similar to those described for the !Isley strain of mycoplasma isolated from cattle (Gourlay & Wyld, I975) but grew slightly faster in U3 broth (Howard et al., I975) and on solid U3 medium. Electron microscopic examination revealed typical mycoplasma structures, bounded by a triple-layered unit membrane. Club-shaped forms were visible but terminal structures were not as distinct as those seen in the Ilsley strain. Colonies of the Mayfield strain did not show fluorescence with antiserum to the Ilsley strain in the indirect immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) test, nor Acheloplasma laidlawii, were isolated at titres of
ISOLATION OF MYCOPLASMAS FROM PIGS
was jnhibition produced in the growth inhibition (GI) and metabolism inhibition (MI) tests by this antiserum. The IF A and G I tests were also negative when tested with antisera to the following mycoplasmas: Mycoplasma bovirhinis, M. bovigenitalium, M. agalactiae subsp. bovis, M. dispar, M. bovoculi, M . verecundum, M. pneumoniae, M. gallisepticum, M. jermentans, M. pulmonis, M. hyorhinis, M. arginini and M. alkalescens. In addition the IFA test was negative to the following antisera: M. suipneumoniae, M. felis, M. rteurolyticum, M. canis, M. synoviae, M. anatis, M. mycoides subsp. capri, M. agalactiae subsp. agalactiae, A. laidlawii, A. granularum and A. axanthum. Dr R. H. Leach, Mycoplasma Reference Laboratory, Colindale, London, reported that the Mayfield strain did not cross react in the MI test with antisera to all the above mentioned species as well as Mycoplasma sp. bovine group 7, A. modicum, Mycoplasma sp. 466, M. mycoides subsp. mycoides, A. oculi, M. conJunctivae, M. hominis, M. orale, M. buccale, M. salivarium, M. primatum, M. neurolyticum, M. maculosum, M. spumans, M. gateae, M. gallinarum, M. iners, M. meleagridis, M. hyosynoviae, M. capricolum, M. ovipneumoniae and M. equirhinis. Antiserum prepared to the Mayfield strain gave positive reactions in the IF A and GI tests against the homologous organism and against the other two pig isolates. DISCUSSION
It seems likely that the Mayfield strain and the other two isolates from the rectum of pigs are members of a new species of mycoplasma. However, before this can be confirmed it is necessary to characterize them fully and to examine more closely their relationship, if any, with similar mycoplasmas that have r ecently been isolated from cattle. REFERENCES GOURLAY, R. N. & WYLD, S. G. (1975) . HOWARD, C. j . BROWNLIE,j., GOURLAY,
Vet. Rec. 97, 370. R. N., & COLLINS, (1975). J. Hyg., Camb.
(Accepted for publication
22
April 1976)
74,261.
