M. Shamsaddini Bafti - Department of Molecular Microbiology, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Organization, Kerman, Iran
S.A. Pourbakhsh - Mycoplasma Reference Laboratory, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Organization, Karaj, Iran
M. Ezatkhah - Department of Molecular Microbiology, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Organization, Kerman, Iran
A. Ashtari - Mycoplasma Reference Laboratory, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Organization, Karaj, Iran

Agalactia is an infectious and contagious disease of small ruminants caused by Mycoplasma agalactiae (M. agalactiae). Although different microorganism strains contribute to this disease,  M. agalactiae is known as the most prominent causative agent. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the rate of M. agalactiae involvement in contagious agalactia in the southeast region of Iran. Sampling was performed from milk, conjunctiva, ear lesions, and joints exudate of suspicious sheep and goat flocks according to the reports of Iran Veterinary Organization. The presence of Mycoplasma and its species, namely M. agalactiae, was evaluated through microbial culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. The detected microorganisms were confirmed to be Mycoplasma and M. agalactiae by the PCR amplification of ۱۶S rRNA and lipoprotein target genes. According to the findings of present study, ۱۴.۸% and ۳۶.۰% of the samples were diagnosed as positive for Mycoplasma by culture and PCR, respectively. Moreover, the incidence of M. agalactiae was determined as ۶.۱% using the specific PCR method. Therefore, it is recommended to identify the other species of Mycoplasma in small ruminant samples involved with contagious agalactiae disease.

Agalactia, Mycoplasma agalactiae, PCR, Southeast of Iran