Mycoplasma bovis-associated verminous pneumonia in alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra)

Pneumonia is a common disease affecting Alpine chamois. However, little is known concerning the etiological agents involved. We investigated whether <i>Mycoplasma</i> spp. infection occurs in Alpine chamois and describe the microscopic lesions associated with <i>Mycoplasma</i>-associated bronchopneumonia in this species. Lung tissues obtained from 45 chamois with gross evidence of pneumonia were analysed. The histological lesions and the presence of lungworms within the lungs were evaluated blindly. The presence of <i>Mycoplasma</i> spp. was assessed by immunohistochemistry (<i>Mycoplasma bovis</i> and <i>Mycoplasma mycoides</i> subsp<i>. mycoides</i>) and by end-point PCR. <i>M. bovis</i> was detected by immunohistochemistry and confirmed by PCR and sequencing in 6/45 (13%) cases, while all lungs were negative for <i>M. mycoides</i> subsp<i>. mycoides</i>. A significant association was found between the detection of <i>M. bovis</i> and the presence of severe lungworms infection in the examined lungs. We report for the first time <i>M. bovis</i> as a bacteria associated with verminous pneumonia in chamois.