Research article

HEMATOLOGICAL, BIOCHEMICAL, PATHOLOGICAL, SEROLOGY AND MOLECULAR DETECTION OF MYCOPLASMA OVIPNEUMONIAE FROM AWASSI SHEEP IN AL-NAJAF PROVINCE, IRAQ.

Ali Hussein AL-Dujaily, Shatha Atta Abeed and Ali Mahdi Sahib

Online First: February 22, 2023


Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (M. ovipneumonea) is a major respiratory infection in sheep worldwide. The current study aims to diagnose, identify, and examine M. ovipneumonea in sheep using hematology, biochemistry, pathology and molecular. The current study gathered samples from Awassi sheep of both sexes and 1.5-4 years of age in the Al-Najaf slaughterhouse from January to April 2022, who were suffering from respiratory symptoms such as ocular, nasal discharge, and coughing. Before slaughter, blood samples (n=210) were obtained for hemato-biochemical and serological analysis; following slaughter, lung specimens were collected from sheep for DNA gene-based PCR analysis and the preparation of paraffin blocks for histological evaluation. Animals with pneumonic pathological changes had a range of respiratory symptoms. The appearance revealed multiple stages of pulmonary changes, including respiratory congestion, edema mixed with fibrin fluid, irregular consolidation and hemorrhagic patches on the lungs' surface, and inflammatory exudate in their airways. The infected sheep were found to be anemic and to exhibit leukocytosis on a hematological value. In compared to healthy animals, blood biochemical indicators such as cholesterol, HDL, and albumin were shown to be decreased. ALT, AST, total protein, globulin, and fibrinogen levels all increased. Histopathologically, the infected sheep had broncho interstitial pneumonia and purulent to fibrinopurulent bronchopneumonia. Serology results show that 210/123 (58.8%) confirmed the presence of Mycoplasma spp. M. ovipneumoniae DNA was extracted from lung tissue samples and replicated using genus and species-specific primers. The 16S rRNA gene of M. ovipneumonea was found in 123/52 (42.2%) of the PCR findings. Our findings indicated that M. ovipneumoniae was one of the agents involved in generating lung consolidation and pneumonia in Awassi sheep, and that PCR was more effective in identifying Mycoplasmas.

Keywords

Mycoplasma ovipneumonia, Hematology, biochemical, Histopathology, Serology, PCR, sheep.