A PATHOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF GOAT KIDS UNDERGOING SEPTICEMIC DISEASE CAUSED BY MYCOPLASMA-CAPRICOLUM SUBSP CAPRICOLUM, MYCOPLASMA-MYCOIDES SUBSP CAPRI AND MYCOPLASMA-MYCOIDES SUBSP MYCOIDES (LARGE COLONY TYPE)

This paper studies the pathological and immunohistochemical findings i n 12 kids experimentally infected with Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. ca pricolum (Mcc), M. mycoides subsp. capri (Mmc) and M. mycoides subsp. mycoides (large colony type), (MmmLC). For the demonstration of Mcc, M mc nad MmmLC antigens an immunoperoxidase technique based on the label led streptavidin biotin method was used in the 12 kids, inoculated by different routes, developed subcutaneous swelling at the point of inoc ulation and terminated in fatal septicaemia from 1 to 5 days post inoc ulation. The histopathological findings consisted of cellulitis at the point of inoculation, acute diffuse interstitial pneumonia, arthritis and multifocal necrotic purulent kids with specific punctiform labell ing inside the cytoplasm of the leucocytes or extracellularly at the i noculation point, respiratory airways, spleen, liver, joints, tonsils and lymph nodes. The results obtained in this study showed that the in oculation of these mycoplasmas by parenteral routes caused mycoplasmae mia. Moreover, the immunohistochemical results appear fully to confirm that the mycoplasmas were the cause of the death of the kids because of a septicaemic state.