Detection of Mycoplasma conjunctivae in the eyes of healthy, free-ranging Alpine ibex : possible involvement of Alpine ibex as carriers for the main causing agent of infectious keratoconjunctivitis in wild Caprinae

Ryser-Degiorgis, Marie-Pierre; Bischof, Daniela F.; Marreros, Nelson; Willisch, Christian; Signer, Claudio; Filli, Flurin; Brosi, Georg; Frei, Joachim; Vieli, Edy M.

doi:10.1016/j.vetmic.2008.08.005

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Peer review (publication)
Title:	Detection of Mycoplasma conjunctivae in the eyes of healthy, free-ranging Alpine ibex : possible involvement of Alpine ibex as carriers for the main causing agent of infectious keratoconjunctivitis in wild Caprinae
Authors:	Ryser-Degiorgis, Marie-Pierre Bischof, Daniela F. Marreros, Nelson Willisch, Christian Signer, Claudio Filli, Flurin Brosi, Georg Frei, Joachim Vieli, Edy M.
DOI:	10.1016/j.vetmic.2008.08.005
Published in:	Veterinary Microbiology
Volume(Issue):	134
Issue:	3-4
Page(s):	368
Pages to:	374
Issue Date:	2009
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	Elsevier
ISSN:	0378-1135 1873-2542
Language:	English
Subject (DDC):	571: Physiology and related subjects 590: Animals (Zoology)
Abstract:	Mycoplasma conjunctivae is considered the major cause of infectious keratoconjunctivitis (IKC) in Alpine ibex (Capra i. ibex) and chamois (Rupicapra r. rupicapra). While it is known that domestic sheep can act as healthy carriers for M. conjunctivae, this question has not been addressed in wild ungulates so far. In this study, bacteriological investigations and field observations were performed to assess whether free-ranging Alpine ibex can be healthy carriers of M. conjunctivae. Among 136 ibex without clinical signs of IKC, M. conjunctivae was identified 26 times (19.1%) by TaqMan PCR. To assess the potential pathogenicity of M. conjunctivae strains isolated from asymptomatic eyes, strains from three healthy ibex and from 15 IKC-ibex and IKC-chamois were analysed genetically by DNA sequence analysis of the variable part of the lppS gene. No significant differences were observed between strains from asymptomatic and clinically affected animals, reflecting the assumption that healthy ibex may act as carriers for M. conjunctivae strains that may be pathogenic for other individuals. Our results further indicate that development of IKC is associated with M. conjunctivae load in the eyes. In addition, a questionnaire survey revealed that IKC is generally less common in ibex than chamois and that infection in wild ungulates is not necessarily linked to the presence of sheep. These data support the hypothesis that apparently healthy ibex may be important in the epizootiology of IKC and indicate that host predilection may play a role in IKC development.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/15477
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	Licence according to publishing contract
Departement:	Life Sciences and Facility Management
Organisational Unit:	Institute of Natural Resource Sciences (IUNR)
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Life Sciences und Facility Management

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Ryser-Degiorgis, M.-P., Bischof, D. F., Marreros, N., Willisch, C., Signer, C., Filli, F., Brosi, G., Frei, J., & Vieli, E. M. (2009). Detection of Mycoplasma conjunctivae in the eyes of healthy, free-ranging Alpine ibex : possible involvement of Alpine ibex as carriers for the main causing agent of infectious keratoconjunctivitis in wild Caprinae. Veterinary Microbiology, 134(3-4), 368–374. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2008.08.005

Ryser-Degiorgis, M.-P. et al. (2009) ‘Detection of Mycoplasma conjunctivae in the eyes of healthy, free-ranging Alpine ibex : possible involvement of Alpine ibex as carriers for the main causing agent of infectious keratoconjunctivitis in wild Caprinae’, Veterinary Microbiology, 134(3-4), pp. 368–374. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2008.08.005.

M.-P. Ryser-Degiorgis et al., “Detection of Mycoplasma conjunctivae in the eyes of healthy, free-ranging Alpine ibex : possible involvement of Alpine ibex as carriers for the main causing agent of infectious keratoconjunctivitis in wild Caprinae,” Veterinary Microbiology, vol. 134, no. 3-4, pp. 368–374, 2009, doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2008.08.005.

RYSER-DEGIORGIS, Marie-Pierre, Daniela F. BISCHOF, Nelson MARREROS, Christian WILLISCH, Claudio SIGNER, Flurin FILLI, Georg BROSI, Joachim FREI und Edy M. VIELI, 2009. Detection of Mycoplasma conjunctivae in the eyes of healthy, free-ranging Alpine ibex : possible involvement of Alpine ibex as carriers for the main causing agent of infectious keratoconjunctivitis in wild Caprinae. Veterinary Microbiology. 2009. Bd. 134, Nr. 3-4, S. 368–374. DOI 10.1016/j.vetmic.2008.08.005

Ryser-Degiorgis, Marie-Pierre, Daniela F. Bischof, Nelson Marreros, Christian Willisch, Claudio Signer, Flurin Filli, Georg Brosi, Joachim Frei, and Edy M. Vieli. 2009. “Detection of Mycoplasma Conjunctivae in the Eyes of Healthy, Free-Ranging Alpine Ibex : Possible Involvement of Alpine Ibex as Carriers for the Main Causing Agent of Infectious Keratoconjunctivitis in Wild Caprinae.” Veterinary Microbiology 134 (3-4): 368–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2008.08.005.

Ryser-Degiorgis, Marie-Pierre, et al. “Detection of Mycoplasma Conjunctivae in the Eyes of Healthy, Free-Ranging Alpine Ibex : Possible Involvement of Alpine Ibex as Carriers for the Main Causing Agent of Infectious Keratoconjunctivitis in Wild Caprinae.” Veterinary Microbiology, vol. 134, no. 3-4, 2009, pp. 368–74, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2008.08.005.