EXOone Mycoplasma suis

Description

Mycoplasma suis (formerly Eperythrozoon suis) is a swine erythrocyte obligatory parasite. Its presence may result in chronic or acute anaemia in different pig categories. Although M. suis rarely causes spectacular death losses, in young, growing pigs, prominent signs include anorexia, listlessness, marked weakness, pale mucous membranes and, perhaps, icterus.

Haemoplasmas are uncultivable agents, so traditional diagnosis has been based on blood smears that can be unspecific and difficult to interpret. Recent advances in the molecular biology of M. suis have allow development of techniques such as the PCR, that is a more sensitive and specific tool for the identification of this agent.