title: Seroprevalence of Mycoplasma alligatoris among free-ranging alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) in Florida--2003.
abstract: Mycoplasma alligatoris causes acute lethal infection of alligators (Alligator mississippiensis). The objective of this study was to assess the current seroprevalence of M. alligatoris among free-ranging, juvenile and subadult alligators in Florida. Thirty-two of 592 (5.4%) plasma samples from alligators at 12 of 20 sites (60%) in April and October 2003 were tested seropositive (titer 1: > or = 32) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for anti-M. alligatoris antibodies. These results show that alligators throughout Florida have a recent history of exposure to M. alligatoris and suggest that contact with free-ranging alligators may constitute a risk of lethal infection of susceptible crocodilians.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, P.O. Box 110880, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611-0880, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Laurie A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Zacher
authors.forename: Dwayne A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Carbonneau
mesh_terms: D000489:Alligators and Crocodiles / Q000382:microbiology; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000382:microbiology; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial