Small Ruminant Mycoplasmas in Pakistan &; Its Immunosuppression Study : RECOVERY OF GOAT MYCOPLASMAS, FIELD USE OF VACCINE AND IN-VITRO STUDIES ON IMMUNOSUPPRESSION BY SHEEP MYCOPLASMAS

In order to investigate how many species of Mycoplasma are causing the disease/s in goats in Pakistan, 12 districts have been probed to characterize caprine Mycoplasmas species. Isolation,identification and confirmation of the etiological agent/s of caprine Mycoplasmosis has been performed by using culturing, bio-chemical and polymerase chain reaction tests.Saponin inactivated vaccine from field isolate of Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies capri, was prepared and evaluated in experimental goats. M. ovipneumoniae induced a strong in-vitro polyclonal suppression of CD4+ ,CD8+ and B blood lymphocytes subsets.The suppressive activity could be destroyed by heating to 60 C, and partially impaired by formalin and binary ethyleneimine treatment that abolished its viability.The findings of this study will have impact on the design of an efficient vaccine of M. ovipneumoniae against chronic non-progressive pneumonia in sheep and goats.This book will be of immense use for undergraduate and post graduate students, teachers, researchers, scientists, livestock farm managers, practicing veterinarians, staff of vaccine preparation units, veterinary clinical & lab diagnosticians and faculty members.