Introduction

Classification

Taxonomy

• Class: Mollicutes.
• Order: Mycoplasmatales.
• Family: Mycoplasmataceae.
• Genus: Mycoplasma.
• Species: canis.

Etymology

• Gk: myco - fungus; plasma - form; mycoplasma - a fungus form.

Active Forms

Clinical Effects

Epidemiology

Habitat

• Occurs as free-living saprophyte or parasite.
• Found on mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal, genital and respiratory tracts.
• May be commensals.

Lifecycle

• Reproduce by binary fission; may develop into filamentous forms before dividing.
• Possess circular double-stranded DNA genome.

Transmission

• Important modes of transmission are:
  • Aerosol.
  • Venereal.
  • Vertical (in utero or via the egg).
  • Indirect via fomites (less frequent).

Pathological effects

• Diseases caused Mycoplasmosis :
  • Pneumonia Lung: bacterial pneumonia - M. canis has been isolated from pneumonic lungs, but following experimental infection no disease produced.
  • Urinary tract disease Cystitis - M. canis often isolated in mixed culture along with bacteria.
  • Endometritis/infertility - again M. canis isolated in mixed culture with other pathogens.
  • Colitis Colitis: overview - M. canis occasionally isolated from colonic biopsies from dogs with colitis Colitis: overview.

Other Host Effects

• May be present in natural flora in dogs.

Control

Control via chemotherapies

• Mycoplasmas may develop resistance to antimicrobial drugs Therapeutics: antimicrobial drug.
• Macrolides and fluoroquinolones Enrofloxacin are used most commonly.

Diagnosis

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Jang S S, Ling G V, Yamamoto R et al (1984) Mycoplasmas as a cause of canine urinary tract infection. JAVMA 185 (1), 45-47 PubMed.
• Rosendal S (1982) Canine mycoplasmas: their ecologic niche and role in disease. JAVMA 180 (10), 1212-1214 PubMed.

Other sources of information

• Rosendal S (1995) Mycoplasma infections of dogs and cats. In: Current Veterinary Therapy XII Eds: Bonagura J D and Kirk R W, Philadelphia, WB Saunders, pp 301-2.