Molecular characterization of universal Mycoplasma and Acholeplasma laidlawii from buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) at Karachi, Pakistan

The present study was conducted to identify and characterize the bovine Acholeplasma laidlawii from 1120 clinically ill buffaloes and 470 lungs collected from buffaloes at abattoir of Karachi. All buffaloes were clinically examined and around 467 (13.48%) buffaloes had signs of respiratory distress including sticky nasal discharge, sunken eyes, dyspnea and fever. All the culture positive samples were further evaluated by PCR using specific primers of A. laidlawii and the amplified product to re-validate the sequence of the specie. This revealed that suspected buffaloes, 92 (2.66%) from nasal discharge and 44 (4.03%) from lung tissue samples respectively were positive for A. laidlawii. Rests of the samples were still under investigation. However it is first time proclaimed on research basis that A. laidlawii was infecting the buffaloes in Pakistan and precautionary measures should be taken to prevent losses from this specie in the months of October and April.