The detection of Mycoplasma ( formerly Eperythrozoon) wenyonii by 16S rDNA PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis

• Published in: Veterinary microbiology Vol. 117; no. 2; pp. 292 - 296
• Main Authors: McAuliffe, Laura, Lawes, Joanna, Bell, Suzanna, Barlow, Alex, Ayling, Roger, Nicholas, Robin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 31.10.2006; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: animal pathogenic bacteria; Animals; Bacteriology; Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; cattle diseases; dairy cattle; denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis; DGGE; diagnostic techniques; disease detection; disease diagnosis; DNA, Bacterial - chemistry; DNA, Ribosomal - chemistry; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel - methods; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel - veterinary; Eperythrozoon; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; microbial genetics; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Molecular Sequence Data; Mycoplasma; Mycoplasma - chemistry; Mycoplasma - classification; Mycoplasma - genetics; Mycoplasma - isolation & purification; Mycoplasma Infections - diagnosis; Mycoplasma Infections - veterinary; Mycoplasma wenyonii; mycoplasmosis; pathogen identification; Phylogeny; polymerase chain reaction; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Polymerase Chain Reaction - veterinary; ribosomal DNA; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - chemistry; screening; Sensitivity and Specificity; Species Specificity; strain differences; Time Factors; Eperythrozoon; Mycoplasma wenyonii; DGGE; Microbiology; Ribosomal DNA; Anaplasmataceae; Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis; Mycoplasma; Mycoplasmataceae; Mollicutes; Rickettsiales; Polymerase chain reaction; Mycoplasmatales; Bacteria; Detection; Veterinary; Eperythrozoon wenyonii
• ISSN: 0378-1135; 1873-2542
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2006.06.011

Although the role of Mycoplasma wenyonii in disease is still subject to some debate, infections have been reported to result in parasitaemia, anaemia, scrotal and hind limb oedema, tachycardia, pyrexia, infertility, swollen teats, prefemoral lymphadenopathy and decreased milk production. Previously, diagnosis of M. wenyonii has been based on blood smears but is not specific for M. wenyonii and can be difficult to interpret. We have previously described the use of PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) for the detection and differentiation of Mycoplasma species. DGGE enables the rapid and specific identification of Mycoplasma species and is ideally suited to detecting both mixed infections and new and unusual species. In this study, we have used DGGE with universal primers to detect M. wenyonii DNA from blood samples. DGGE can be used on blood samples as a rapid and specific test for M. wenyonii and can also be used as a screening test for other blood borne pathogens.