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Mycoplasma Group

The Mycoplasma Group at VLA was assigned OIE Reference Laboratory status for contagious agalactia in May 2006.

Main aims

  • Provide surveillance services to detect and identify mycoplasmas in livestock.
  • Warn of potential risks from changing disease trends, new diseases or the introduction of exotic diseases caused by mycoplasmas.
  • Improve differential diagnostic tests and develop effective vaccines.
  • Assess the importance of antimicrobial resistance.
  • Support new EU Directive for the Poultry Health Scheme 2009/158/EC.

Achievements

  • Identification of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) in Eritrea, Thrace (Turkey) Pakistan and Mauritius.
  • OIE reference centre for contagious agalactia.
  • Use of autogenous vaccine for Mycoplasma bovis in UK.
  • Use of PCR/DGGE for mycoplasma identification.
  • Detection and identification of the former Eperythrozoon species by PCR/DGGE.
  • Described biofilm formation in Mycoplasma species.

  • Isolation of M. c. capripneumoniae from CCPP-affected gazelle species in the UAE.

  • Immunoblots for avian mycoplasmas. Immunoblotting is a specific and sensitive confirmatory test.

  • Development of molecular typing tools for strain identification and outbreak tracing.

  • Development of pen-side tests for detection of the exotic mycoplasma diseases CBPP and CCPP in the field.

Collaborations

The Mycoplasma Group has gained expertise in the Mycoplasma species, that are exotic to Britain, by visiting outbreaks of diseases such as contagious agalactia in Italy and the Middle East, CCPP in Turkey and CBPP in Africa.

These has led to extensive collaborations within the EU and world-wide. They range from confirmation of a mycoplasma disease diagnosis to full projects such as CBPP investigations in Namibia.

We also perform contract research and testing for international companies which includes vaccine development and in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial trials.

Consultancy & training

The Group provides specialist consultancy to Defra, national governments, EU, FAO and OIE. We also give lectures and training on mycoplasmology.

In the past few years students from Greece, Iran, Italy, Jordan, Pakistan and Taiwan have gained PhDs and MScs while working with the Group. Mycoplasma workshops have also been held in the UK and Italy.

For more details about the work of the Mycoplasma Group, please contact us directly on 01932 357379 or 01932 357586.