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Veterinary bacteriology: information about important bacteria
Veterinary bacteriology


Species/Subspecies: Mycoplasma leachii
Etymology: Genus name: fungus shaped.
Species epithet: named to honour Dr. R. H. Leach, who first characterized this taxon. .
Significance:  [Of minor importance]   
Alternative Species Name(s):Mycoplasma sp. bovine group 7 of Leach.
Taxonomy:
Phylum
Mycoplasmatota
Class
Mollicutes
Order
Mycoplasmatales
Family
Mycoplasmataceae 
Genus
Mycoplasma
Type Strain: PG50 = NCTC 10133.
Macromorphology (smell): Forms small and very typical umbonated colonies ("fried egg appearance), which can be observed in a microscope.
Micromorphology: Very small and pleomorphic. Non-motile.
Gram +/Gram -:G-, but is normally not gram stained because the cells will then be fragmented.
Metabolism: Facultatively anaerobic. Energy source: glucose (pH is decreased).
Catalase/Oxidase:
Spec. Char.:
Disease:Polyarthritis, mastitis, abortion and pneumonia.
HostsDiseaseClinical picture
CattlePolyarthritis, mastitis, abortion and pneumonia.Swollen joints, fever and general malaise.
Sheep and goatsSmall ruminants may also be affected by this disease.
16S rRNA Seq.:
Acc-noStrainNumber of NTOperon
U26054 PG50T 1524 

Taxonomy/phylogeny:
 
Seven species have been described within the revised genus Mycoplasma to which Mycoplasma leachii belongs. Two of these species are divided into four subspecies. These species and subspecies belong to the so-called the mycoides group and they are closely related to mollicutes within the genus Spiroplasma. This genus contains many plant pathogens. See the phylogenetic tree (Fig. 229:1). Note that it is only for the mollicutes of the mycoides group that the letter M stands for Mycoplasma. For the other species, M means: Mesomycoplasma, Metamycoplasma, Mycoplasmoides or Mycoplasmopsis.
Comment:Based on whole genome sequencing, the taxonomy of mycoplasmas has recently undergone a comprehensive revision. The new taxonomy has now been introduced in VetBact. For some mollicutes (mycoplasmas), however, the names have not changed and this applies to members of the mycoides group. Read more about the revised taxonomy of the mollicutes under the Term list of VetBact and see also reference 164 below.
Reference(s): No. 164
Updated:2023-03-15

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