Pathogenicity of mycoplasma agalactiae in mice

Four to six week old swiss albino mice of either sex weighing around 20 grams were inoculated with 24 h growth culture of Mycoplasma agalactiae. Inoculation was done in 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 ml doses (4.8 x 10¹²CFU/ml) in each group of 10 mice by 3 different routes viz intravenous, intraperitoneal and subcutaneous. The development of mycoplasmaemia was detected in mice by inoculating the tail blood in liquid and solid mycoplasma media at 24, 48 and 72 h. The mycoplasmaemia was observed in all the groups of mice except in the group of mice that was inoculated 0.25 ml dose of culture by subcutaneous route.