Mycoplasma genitalium and Macrolide Resistance-associated Mutations in the Skåne Region of Southern Sweden 2015.

Mycoplasma genitalium is a sexually transmitted infection ordinarily treated with azithromycin. Emerging resistance to macrolide is linked to mutations in the 23S rRNA gene. We analysed the frequency of such mutations of M. genitalium isolates from patients that were symptomatic, and from sexual partners of symptomatic individuals, from October to December of 2015, in the Skåne Region of Sweden. Mutations were analysed by the use of DNA sequencing. Overall, 11.9% (145/1,311) and 17.0% (116/704) of females and males were positive for M. genitalium, respectively. Macrolide resistant mutations were detected in 13% (31/239) of M. genitalium isolates from first-test patient samples. Twenty-one (8.8%) and 10 (4.2%) of the isolates had point mutations of the 23S-gene at position 2072 and 2071, respectively. Two different M. genitalium isolates were detected simultaneously in two cases. In summary, we found a relatively low rate of macrolide-resistant M. genitalium in the region of Southern Sweden.

Evaluation of enrofloxacin against egg transmission of Mycoplasma gallisepticum.

Five groups of 20 commercial leghorn hens near peak production were challenged with Mycoplasma gallisepticum, and medicated with enrofloxacin in the drinking water at 7-11, 21-25, or 7-11 and 21-25 days postchallenge (PC), a combination of lincomycin/spectinomycin at 7-11 and 21-25 days PC, or left as untreated controls. Egg production records were maintained, and all eggs produced during the 63 days following challenge were incubated for 18 days and then cultured for M. gallisepticum. All groups experienced marked egg production drops beginning about 1 week PC; production returned to near normal levels after approximately 3 weeks. Under the conditions of this study water medication did not prevent egg production losses, probably because of the delay in the onset of medication, but medication may have resulted in a more rapid recovery of egg production. Enrofloxacin was highly effective in reducing the level of egg transmission of M. gallisepticum, although a small number of eggs (0-0.3%) in the treated groups were culture positive after medication was begun. Only 1 of 2463 live embryos was culture positive after the onset of treatment. In the unmedicated control group, 12.8% of all eggs were culture positive. Lincomycin/spectinomycin also reduced egg transmission (3.4% of eggs were culture positive after treatment was initiated), but not as effectively as enrofloxacin. Most of the egg transmission occurred before the medication could have had an effect. Both enrofloxacin and lincomycin/spectinomycin reduced the number of dead-in-shell embryos.

Overview of mycoplasmoses in sheep and goats.

Over the past few years the role of Mycoplasma F38 in contagious caprine pleuropneumonia has been confirmed in Sudan as well as in Kenya, and further disease outbreaks involving the subspecies of M. mycoides have also occurred in goats. Recent work on the epidemiology of some of the mycoplasmoses of goats has established that feeding of contaminated colostrum is a significant method of transmission of disease to kids. Standard tests for freedom from mycoplasma infection are urgently needed to assist regulatory authorities to permit movement of sheep, goats and cattle within and between countries, and there are indications that serological tests may not always be adequate. Measures to improve this situation are discussed.