Pathomorphology of Mycoplasmal Pneumonia Associated with Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae Infection in an Organized Goat Farm

Background: Mycoplasmal pneumonia causes severe economic loss in goat farms due to loss of production performance and mortality. Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae is an important pathogen causing mycoplasmal pneumonia in small ruminants. The present research work was carried out to study the pathomorphological alterations associated with M. ovipneumoniae infection in an organized goat farm. Methods: The research work was carried out in an organized goat farm having history of respiratory illness with mortality and suspected for mycoplasmal pneumonia. Samples from ailing animals and dead animals were collected for investigation. Tissue samples from lungs, trachea, mediastinal lymph nodes and swabs from lungs, trachea and pleural fluid were collected during postmortem examination and subjected to laboratory examination. Result: The samples were confirmed to be positive for M. ovipneumoniae infection by PCR using specific primers. The clinical signs of M. ovipneumoniae infection observed were anorexia, mucopurulent nasal discharge, coughing, increased body temperature, respiratory distress and death in severely affected animals. In the present study, 10 animals exhibited clinical signs and 3 animals died out of 10 animals. Necropsy lesions observed in lungs were fibrinous adhesions, severe consolidation of left lung and blackish discoloration of right lung. Histopathologically, lesions in lungs were characterized by widespread congestion, presence of inflammatory cells, widened interlobular septa with fibrin and inflammatory cells. Congestion of bronchioles and presence of pinkish fibrinous exudate within the bronchiolar lumen were observed. From the present study it is concluded that M. ovipneumoniae infection causes severe pathology of respiratory organs and mortality in goats under stressful conditions like long transport.