Investigation of Mycoplasma agalactiae in milk and conjunctival swab samples from sheep flocks in west central, Iran.

In a study to investigate the current status of Mycoplasma agalactiae infections in sheep flocks in west central, Iran, a total of 54 and 47 conjunctival swab and milk samples were collected from normal healthy ewes of 26 herds, respectively. Using PCR method. Mycoplasma agalactiae detected in 20 out of 101 animals (19.8%) examined, 12 out of 54 (22.2%) of conjunctival swab and 8 out of 47 (17%) milk samples were positive. Samples of 20 (out of 26) herds were positives, that means 77% of sheep herds in this region have at least one ewes infected by M. agalactiae. The results confirmed that herds in west central Iran have currently about 20% infection rates for contagious agalactiae of sheep.