Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae
Scientific classification
Domain:	Bacteria
Phylum:	Mycoplasmatota
Class:	Mollicutes
Order:	Mycoplasmatales
Family:	Mycoplasmataceae
Genus:	Mycoplasma
Species:	M. hyopneumoniae
Binomial name
Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae Maré and Switzer, 1965.[1]

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is a species of bacteria known to cause the disease porcine enzootic pneumonia, a highly contagious and chronic disease affecting pigs.^[2] As with other mollicutes, M. hyopneumoniae is small in size (400–1200 nm), has a small genome (893–920 kilo-base pairs (kb)) and lacks a cell wall.^[3] It is difficult to grow in laboratories due to its complex nutritional requirements and the high chances of contamination associated with mycoplasma culture. To successfully grow the bacterium, an environment of 5–10% carbon dioxide is required, and the medium should demonstrate an acid colour shift.^{[citation needed]}

This bacterium is a concern in the livestock industry as it causes a significant reduction in the growing weight of pigs. Losses in the U.S. have been previously estimated at 200 million to 1 billion dollars per annum.

The immune response to M. hyopneumoniae in pigs is slow and ineffective;^[5] it is also believed to cause much of the damage that is seen in pigs with the disease.^{[citation needed]} This mycoplasma is not known to produce any specifically harmful toxin like many other disease-causing bacteria, but some mildly toxic by-products have been observed.^[7]

Conclusions

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae has been a topic of interest in the scientific community due to the economic impact of porcine enzootic pneumonia. Three separate