Investigation of the presence of Mycoplasma agalactiae in sheep and goats in bitlis region

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the presence of Mycoplasma (M.) agalactiae in small ruminants with clinical symptoms such as milk withdrawal, milk reduction, and discoloration by molecular techniques in the Bitlis region. For this purpose, a total of 120 samples collected from milk, blood, eye fluid, ear fluid, and joint fluid from animals showing clinical symptoms of infectious agalactia in Bitlis center and districts were used in the study. DNA isolations of the samples were performed according to commercial DNA isolation kit protocols. Then, the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) step was performed using two different primer pairs (polC and uvrC) determined as M. agalactiae species-specific. 44.08% of the milk samples and 34.16% of all samples were positive for polC gene region. 36.55% of the milk samples and 28.30% of all samples were positive for the uvrC gene region. It was determined that all of the samples positive for both genes were from goat milk samples. As a result, it was observed that the positivities detected by the analyses for both gene regions were mostly compatible for both analyses. This is the first study investigating the presence of M. agalactiae in the Bitlis region. Periodic and widespread studies are needed to determine the prevalence of the agent in the region. In addition, it was concluded that further molecular studies should be carried out to control the infectious agalactia agent circulating in the region and for eradication strategies.