ISOLATION AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF MYCOPLASMA-MYCOIDES SUBSP MYCOIDES LC AND MYCOPLASMA-OVIPNEUMONIAE IN GOATS IN NORTHERN CAMEROON

Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides LC and Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae we re isolated for the first time from a goat in northern Cameroon. Exper imental inoculation with M. mycoides subsp. mycoides LC induced death in two inoculated goats with pneumonic, arthritic and mastitic symptom s, whilst Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae was not pathogenic despite its mult iplication in the upper respiratory tract (nasal sinuses). Following a single inoculation in a goat with both isolates, the course of the di sease was not significantly modified. Mycoplasmaemia and the presence of mycoplasma in the milk were investigated. Necropsy observations of infected animals included areas of pulmonary hepatization with macrosc opic thickening of the interlobular septa in one goat, and invasion of the lung by numerous small abscesses with no macroscopic thickening o f the interlobular septa in the other animal. In both cases, white fib rinous plaques were present in the thoracic cavity but no pleural flui d was observed. It is recommended to pay particular attention to the d iagnosis of M. mycoides subsp. mycoides LC infection in an area where contagious bovine pleuropneumonia is endemic and contagious caprine pl europneumonia is threatening.