title: Contagious agalactia due to Mycoplasma spp. in small dairy ruminants: epidemiology and prospects for diagnosis and control.
abstract: Contagious agalactia (CA) is a serious disease of small dairy ruminants that has a substantial economic impact on the goat and sheep milk industries. The main aetiological agent of the disease is Mycoplasma agalactiae, although other species, such as Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri, Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum and Mycoplasma putrefaciens, are pathogenic in goats. There are two clinical-epidemiological states of CA in sheep and goats; herds and flocks may exhibit outbreaks of CA or may be chronically infected, the latter with a high incidence of subclinical mastitis and only occasional clinical cases. The complex epidemiology of CA is related to the genetic characteristics and mechanisms of molecular variation of the Mycoplasma spp. involved, along with presence of CA-mycoplasmas in wild ruminant species. In goats, the situation is particularly complex and asymptomatic carriers have been detected in chronically infected herds. The coexistence of other non-pathogenic mycoplasmas in the herd further complicates the diagnosis of CA and the design of efficient strategies to control the disease. Routes of infection, such as the venereal route, may be involved in the establishment of chronic infection in herds. Current challenges include the need for improved diagnostic methods for detection of chronic and subclinical infections and for the design of more efficient vaccines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo s/n, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gómez-Martín
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Amores
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paterna
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De la Fe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006041:Goats; D007775:Lactation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control
keywords: Contagious agalactia; Control; Epidemiology; Mycoplasma agalactiae; Small dairy ruminants