Introduction

Mycoplasma hyorhinis is a member of the Mycoplasmatales family. This bacterium

Bacteria

Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...

is often found as a commensal

Commensalism

In ecology, commensalism is a class of relationship between two organisms where one organism benefits but the other is neutral...

in the respiratory tract of pigs. It is thought to facilitate and exacerbate the development of diseases such as porcine enzootic pneumonia and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS). Rarely, it may cause mycoplasma arthritis, mycoplasmal polyserositis or mycoplasma septicaemia in piglets without the involvement of other bacteria. This presents as polyarthritis or polyserositis.

Clinical Signs & Diagnosis

A variety of clinical signs are seen in piglets less than 10 weeks old.

Lameness, polyserositis and joint swelling are the most common symptoms. A foul smelling aural discharge can occur secondary to otitis

Otitis

Otitis is a general term for inflammation or infection of the ear, in both humans and other animals.It is subdivided into the following:*Otitis externa, external otitis, or "swimmer's ear" involves the outer ear and ear canal. In external otitis, the ear hurts when touched or pulled.*Otitis media...

. Less specific signs include poor coat quality, pyrexia, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neurological and respiratory signs.

Bacterial culture, immunofluorescent antibody testing (IFAT)

Immunofluorescence

Immunofluorescence is a technique used for light microscopy with a fluorescence microscope and is used primarily on biological samples. This technique uses the specificity of antibodies to their antigen to target fluorescent dyes to specific biomolecule targets within a cell, and therefore allows...

, complement fixation test and haemagglutination can all be used to confirm diagnosis.