Mycoplasma agalactiae in semen and milk of goat from Pernambuco State, Brazil1

Alves B.H.L.S., Silva J.G., Mota A.R., Campos A.C., Pinheiro Júnior J.W., Santos S.B. & Mota R.A. 2013. Mycoplasma agalactiae in semen and milk of goat from Pernambuco State, Brazil. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 33(11):1309-1312. Laboratório de Bacterioses dos Animais Domésticos, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Av. Dom Manoel de Medeiros s/n, Recife, PE 52171-900, Brazil. E-mail: [email protected] In goat and sheep flocks, mycoplasmosis is a disease that may cause severe economical losses associated with polyarthritis, mastitis, agalactia, conjunctivitis, pneumonia and reproductive failure. The latter may involve repeat breeding, granular vulvovaginitis, infertility and abortions. The aim of the present study was to assess the occurrence of Mycoplasma agalactiae (Ma) in semen and milk samples from naturally infected goat in the semiarid region from Pernambuco State, Northeast from Brazil. Thirty-nine semen samples and 81 milk samples were submitted to DNA extraction using a commercially available kit and following the manufacturer’s instructions. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was then performed in accordance with protocols described in the literature. The results of the present study revealed the presence of Ma in the DNA of 17.9% (7/39) of the semen samples and 3.7% (3/81) of the milk samples. The results obtained in the present study confirm the elimination of the DNA of Ma in the semen and milk samples. The presence of this agent in goat flocks is considered very risky in terms of reproductive disorders and contagious agalactia outbreaks in the Northeast region of Brazil. INDEXS TERMS: Mycoplasma agalactiae, semen, milk, goat, reproductive disorder. 1Received on July 19, 2013. Accepted for publication on September 30, 2013. 2 Laboratório de Bacte rioses dos Animais Domésticos, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Av. Dom Manoel de Medeiros s/n, Recife, PE 52171-900, Brazil. *Corresponding author: [email protected] 3 Biovetech Ind. Com. Produtos Biotecnológicos, Recife, PE 50730-260. 4 Unidade Acadêmica de Garanhuns, UFRPE, Av. Bom Pastor s/n, Boa Vista, Garanhuns, PE 55292-270, Brazil.