Molecular detection of a mixed infection of Goatpox virus, Orf virus, and Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae in goats.

The current study investigated an outbreak of mixed infection with Goatpox virus (GTPV), Orf virus (ORFV), and Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae (MCCP) that occurred on a Chinese goat farm, with a case fatality rate of 60.2%. The observed clinical signs were ecthyma and accelerated respiration with frequent coughing. Specific fragments of the p32 gene of GTPV, B2L gene of ORFV, and 16S ribosomal RNA gene of MCCP were synchronously amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from the tissues of 12 dead goats. The PCR products were cloned, sequenced, and aligned with related reference sequences in GenBank for further identification of the pathogens. The present study reports a mixed infection with GTPV, ORFV, and MCCP in goats.