<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec id="j_jvetres-2021-0021_s_005"><h3>Introduction</h3>
<p>It is very important to monitor the infection of <italic>Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae</italic> as a potential threat to the sheep industry. Southern Xinjiang is a major sheep breeding base in China, however, there is no relevant information concerning the infection of the region’s ovine stock with this bacteria at present. This study aimed to address this knowledge gap.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_jvetres-2021-0021_s_006"><h3>Material and Methods</h3>
<p>A total of 824 nasal swabs and the lungs of six sheep that died of pneumonia were collected in four regions between 2018 and 2020. Primers specific for <italic>M. ovipneumoniae</italic> and universal ones for the genus were used for PCR. Sequencing was undertaken of 159 universal primer-positive samples (153 nasal swabs and 6 lungs) and of 84 specific primer-positive samples (80 nasal swabs, 20 per region; and 4 lungs, 1 per region). The lungs were also sampled for the isolation of <italic>M. ovipneumoniae</italic>. A phylogenetic tree based on partial sequences of the <italic>Mycoplasma</italic> 16S rRNA gene was built.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_jvetres-2021-0021_s_007"><h3>Results</h3>
<p>The overall nasal swab positive rate for <italic>M. ovipneumoniae</italic> was 40.78%; the rate of animals older than 12 months was significantly different to those of younger sheep (&lt; 3 months, 53.39%; 3 – 12 months, 46.01%; >12 months, 31.76%). Four strains of <italic>M. ovipneumoniae</italic> were isolated from six lungs. Phylogenetic analysis indicated their origin outside southern Xinjiang. Two other species were also detected: <italic>M. arginine</italic> and <italic>M. conjunctivae</italic>.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_jvetres-2021-0021_s_008"><h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Our survey indicated that a high level of <italic>M. ovipneumoniae</italic> asymptomatic colonisation in sheep, especially in lambs, affects southern Xinjiang and also confirmed the existence of <italic>M. conjunctivae</italic> and <italic>M. arginine</italic>. Our results showed that the health of sheep in southern Xinjiang is facing a great threat, and relevant prevention and control measures should be strengthened.</p></sec></abstract>

Introduction
It is very important to monitor the infection of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae as a potential threat to the sheep industry. Southern Xinjiang is a major sheep breeding base in China, however, there is no relevant information concerning the infection of the region’s ovine stock with this bacteria at present. This study aimed to address this knowledge gap.
Material and Methods
A total of 824 nasal swabs and the lungs of six sheep that died of pneumonia were collected in four regions between 2018 and 2020. Primers specific for M. ovipneumoniae and universal ones for the genus were used for PCR. Sequencing was undertaken of 159 universal primer-positive samples (153 nasal swabs and 6 lungs) and of 84 specific primer-positive samples (80 nasal swabs, 20 per region; and 4 lungs, 1 per region). The lungs were also sampled for the isolation of M. ovipneumoniae. A phylogenetic tree based on partial sequences of the Mycoplasma 16S rRNA gene was built.
Results
The overall nasal swab positive rate for M. ovipneumoniae was 40.78%; the rate of animals older than 12 months was significantly different to those of younger sheep (< 3 months, 53.39%; 3 – 12 months, 46.01%; >12 months, 31.76%). Four strains of M. ovipneumoniae were isolated from six lungs. Phylogenetic analysis indicated their origin outside southern Xinjiang. Two other species were also detected: M. arginine and M. conjunctivae.
Conclusion
Our survey indicated that a high level of M. ovipneumoniae asymptomatic colonisation in sheep, especially in lambs, affects southern Xinjiang and also confirmed the existence of M. conjunctivae and M. arginine. Our results showed that the health of sheep in southern Xinjiang is facing a great threat, and relevant prevention and control measures should be strengthened.

Investigation of the prevalence of <italic>Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae</italic> in Southern Xinjiang, China

Journal of Veterinary Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Investigation of the prevalence of  in Southern Xinjiang, China

Introduction
It is very important to monitor the infection of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae as a potential threat to the sheep industry. Southern Xinjiang is a major sheep breeding base in China, however, there is no relevant information concerning the infection of the region’s ovine stock with this bacteria at present. This study aimed to address this knowledge gap.
Material and Methods
A total of 824 nasal swabs and the lungs of six sheep that died of pneumonia were collected in four regions between 2018 and 2020. Primers specific for M. ovipneumoniae and universal ones for the genus were used for PCR. Sequencing was undertaken of 159 universal primer-positive samples (153 nasal swabs and 6 lungs) and of 84 specific primer-positive samples (80 nasal swabs, 20 per region; and 4 lungs, 1 per region). The lungs were also sampled for the isolation of M. ovipneumoniae. A phylogenetic tree based on partial sequences of the Mycoplasma 16S rRNA gene was built.
Results
The overall nasal swab positive rate for M. ovipneumoniae was 40.78%; the rate of animals older than 12 months was significantly different to those of younger sheep (12 months, 31.76%). Four strains of M. ovipneumoniae were isolated from six lungs. Phylogenetic analysis indicated their origin outside southern Xinjiang. Two other species were also detected: M. arginine and M. conjunctivae.
Conclusion
Our survey indicated that a high level of M. ovipneumoniae asymptomatic colonisation in sheep, especially in lambs, affects southern Xinjiang and also confirmed the existence of M. conjunctivae and M. arginine. Our results showed that the health of sheep in southern Xinjiang is facing a great threat, and relevant prevention and control measures should be strengthened.

Introduction
It is very important to monitor the infection of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae as a potential threat to the sheep industry. Southern Xinjiang is a...

Investigation of the prevalence of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae in Southern Xinjiang, China

Published Online: Apr 23, 2021

Page range: 155 - 160

Received: Sep 14, 2020

Accepted: Mar 26, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2021-0021

Keywords
molecular investigation, sheep, southern Xinjiang, China

© 2021 J.Y. Zhao et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Investigation of the prevalence of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae in Southern Xinjiang, China

Published Online: Apr 23, 2021

Page range: 155 - 160

Received: Sep 14, 2020

Accepted: Mar 26, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2021-0021

Keywordsmolecular investigation, sheep, southern Xinjiang, China

© 2021 J.Y. Zhao et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
molecular investigation, sheep, southern Xinjiang, China