Histopathological and immunohistochemical approaches for the diagnosis of mycoplasmosis in pig population of Punjab

Swine mycoplasmosis is responsible for huge economic loss in pig industry and it always remains a threat to swine industry. The objective of the present study was to know the pathology associated with swine mycoplasmosis in the pig population of Punjab using immunopathological techniques. To achieve the objectives, 71 adult swine respiratory tissue samples consisting of lungs showing gross pneumonic changes and associated lymph node were collected for the study. Out of them 21 samples were found to be suspected for Mycoplasmosis as per the gross and microscopic changes observed and out of these 21 samples, 9 cases were confirmed to be positive for Mycoplasmosis by immunohistochemistry. The higher immunohistochemical expression of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae was seen in the cilia of bronchial epithelium cells, surface of alveolar epithelial cells, within the alveolar and airway exudate. Further, on comparing the histopathological and immunohistochemical scores calculated based on characteristic microscopic lesions and number of antigen positive cells respectively, a significant positive correlation was found. It was concluded that pig population of Punjab is having Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infection.