Isolation and identification of mycoplasma strains in the inner ear of cattle and small ruminants in Mali

Mycoplasmas are microorganisms characterized by the absence of a cell wall and affecting animals and humans. In domestic ruminants, the role of inner ear swabbing was determined in the isolation of mycoplasmas in cattle and small ruminants in Mali. From 250 asymptomatic carriers, inner ear swabs were taken from 126 cattle and 124 small ruminants in the regions of Kayes, Koulikoro, Sikasso, Ségou and the District of Bamako. Microbiological analysis by isolation on Hyflick medium revealed 38 strains of mycoplasma including 23 in cattle (6 strains from Kayes, 3 strains from Sikasso, 1 strain from Ségou, 13 strain from Bamako) and 15 strains from small ruminants (1 strain from Sikasso, 2 from Ségou, 12 from Bamako). Growth inhibition and PCR tests (FusA, Polc) made it possible to identify in cattle 8 strains of Mycoplasma bovis, 13 strains of Mycoplasma yeatsii and 2 strains of Mycoplasma alkalescens and in small ruminants, 5 strains of Mycoplasma mycoides capri, 3 strains of Mycoplasma yeatsii and 7 strains of Mycoplasma agalactiae. Overall, the prevalence rate of mycoplasmas from inner ear swabs was 42.11% (16/38) of Mycoplasma yeatsii, 21.05% (8/38) of Mycoplasma bovis, 18.42% (7 /38) of Mycoplasma agalactiae, 13.16% (5/38) of Mycoplasma mycoides capri and 5.26% (2/38) of Mycoplasma alkalescens. The results of this study confirmed that the ear canal of cattle and small ruminants could be suitable sources for the detection of pathogenic strains such as Mycoplasma bovis, Mycoplasma agalactiae, Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri in asymptomatic herds of cattle and small ruminants.