The first reported occurrence of Mycoplasma conjunctivae in goats in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China: A case report

Background: Mycoplasma conjunctivae ( M. conjunctivae ) belongs to the Mycoplasma species of the Mycoplasma family and it is the main pathogen that causes infectious keratoconjunctivitis in goats. Infectious keratoconjunctivitis (IKC), also known as red eye disease, is a highly contagious disease that is prevalent worldwide. Case presentation: In October 2022, a goat farm in Tongxin County, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China began to show leukoplakia in the eyes of goats 3 days later due to the introduction of a batch of goats and no isolation observation. The diseased goat showed listlessness and poor appetite. Its body temperature was as high as 41°C. The eyes began to appear white spots, and its range gradually expanded, covering the entire eyeball. 200 goats were purchased, 40 goats were affected, the incidence rate was 20%. Eye secretions of 15 diseased goats were collected and were amplified by using specific primers. The amplified products were sequenced and phylogenetic trees were constructed. The phylogenetic tree showed that Mco 01, Mco 02, Mco 03, Mco 04, Mco 05, Mco 06, Mco 07, Mco 08, Mco 09, Mco 10, Mco 11, Mco 12, Mco 13, Mco 14 and Mco 15 had the closest genetic distance with the reported M.conjunctivae Goat 655 and M165 / 69 strains, and the self-test support rate with Goat 655 was as high as 98. Conclusions This study is the first to identify M.conjunctivae from the eye secretions of goats with IKC in goats from Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Under the stress conditions of long-distance transportation, the health status of goats should be highly concerned, and timely prevention of M. conjunctivae disease can improve the survival rate of purchased goats.