Mycoplasmoses of ruminants in France: recent data from the national surveillance network

Between 2003 and 2008, 34 laboratories were involved in the network and 1904 mycoplasma isolates, originating from the main ruminant-breeding areas, were identified. For cattle, the high prevalence of M. bovis in bronchopneumonia, notably in young animals, was confirmed by VIGIMYC and an associated specific survey, whereas the non-emergence of species such as M. alkalescens and M. canis was also demonstrated. The etiological agent of bovine contagious pleuropneumonia was never isolated. The principal mycoplasmosis in goats was contagious agalactia with M. mycoides subsp. capri as main agent. Ovine mycoplasmoses, most of which were associated with pneumonia in lambs, were infrequently reported. One exception was ovine contagious agalactia (due to M. agalactiae) that has recently re-emerged in the Pyrénées where it had been endemic for years and was also reported in Corsica, which was previously considered free.Although VIGIMYC is a passive network and somewhat biased as regards sample collection and processing, it has provided, in this study, an overview of the main mycoplasmoses of ruminants in France. The French epidemiological situation is compared to those existing elsewhere in the world.The name "mycoplasma" is conventionally used to designate Mollicutes, a class of bacteria that lack a cell wall and have often been portrayed as "minimal self-replicating organisms" because of their small genome size and the paucity of their metabolic pathways. More than 200 species have been identified to date, amongst which are severe pathogens of humans, animals and plants.Approximately 40 mycoplasma species have so far been described in domestic ruminants (cattle, sheep and goats). Some of them are pathogenic and 3 mycoplasma-induced diseases are currently listed by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) to be of major economic importance. The first is contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) of which the causal agent is Mycoplasma (M.) mycoides subsp. mycoides biotyp