Isolation and identification of mycoplasmas from the respiratory tract of sheep in New Zealand

Abstract

Extract

Chronic pneiamonia is one of the most prevalent diseases of sheep in New Zealand and it is generally believed to be of considerable economic importance although its aetiology is uncertain. In an Australian study of ovine pneumonia St. George et al. (1971) described the transmission of this disease using a mycoplasma recovered from sheep lung, and subsequently Carmichael et al. (1972) suggested the name Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae for the organism involved. Although it cannot be assumed that the disease transmitted to Australian sheep is the same as the natural disease in New Zealand sheep, it is, nevertheless, import ant to know if mycoplasmas are commonly present in the respiratory tract of sheep in New Zealand.