title: Investigations into the seasonal presence of Mycoplasma species in fattening lambs.
abstract: The presence of infection with Mycoplasma species in association with lung consolidation, environmental temperature and relative humidity was investigated in 410 clinically healthy fattening lambs from five different feedlots in Extremadura (southwestern Spain). Isolates of Mycoplasma species were obtained (n= 117), including Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (n = 18) and Mycoplasma arginini (n = 99). Two seasonal periods were identified. The first period, which included February, March, September, October, and November, had an average temperature of 17.5 ± 4.7 °C and a relative humidity of 61.3 ± 15.8%. The second seasonal period, which included the months from April to August, had an average temperature of 22.9 ± 5.5 °C and a relative humidity of 48.4 ± 10.7%. Most Mycoplasma species were isolated from the second seasonal period, indicating that higher temperatures and lower relative humidity favour the presence of Mycoplasma species. M. arginini was also associated with lung consolidation.
authors.affiliation: Histology and Pathological Anatomy, Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Extremadura, Avda de la Universidad s/n, Cáceres 10003, Spain; Research Institute for Biotechnology Livestock & Cynegetic, Avda de la Universidad s/n, Cáceres, Spain. Electronic address: safernandezd@unex.es.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.affiliation: Histology and Pathological Anatomy, Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Extremadura, Avda de la Universidad s/n, Cáceres 10003, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Galapero
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Biotechnology Livestock & Cynegetic, Avda de la Universidad s/n, Cáceres, Spain; Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Extremadura, Avda de la Universidad s/n, Cáceres 10003, Spain.
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rey
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Biotechnology Livestock & Cynegetic, Avda de la Universidad s/n, Cáceres, Spain; Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Extremadura, Avda de la Universidad s/n, Cáceres, Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos Javier
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Biotechnology Livestock & Cynegetic, Avda de la Universidad s/n, Cáceres, Spain; Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Extremadura, Avda de la Universidad s/n, Cáceres, Spain.
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.affiliation: Mycoplasma Team, Animal and Plant Health Agency (Weybridge), Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK.
authors.forename: Rubén
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosales
authors.affiliation: Mycoplasma Team, Animal and Plant Health Agency (Weybridge), Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK.
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ayling
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Biotechnology Livestock & Cynegetic, Avda de la Universidad s/n, Cáceres, Spain; Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Extremadura, Avda de la Universidad s/n, Cáceres 10003, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.affiliation: Histology and Pathological Anatomy, Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Extremadura, Avda de la Universidad s/n, Cáceres 10003, Spain; Research Institute for Biotechnology Livestock & Cynegetic, Avda de la Universidad s/n, Cáceres, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gómez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D045802:Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D012621:Seasons; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Environmental temperature; Mycoplasma arginini; Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae; Relative humidity; Respiratory disease