Characterization of Some Caprine Mycoplasmas, with Proposals for New Species, Mycoplasma capricolum and Mycoplasma putrefaciens

SUMMARY: Of a group of unclassified, mostly caprine mycoplasmas, six were antigenically related to one another, possessed similar biochemical and biological properties and were anticenically distinct from all other human and animal Mycoplasmatales. It is proposed that this group of mycoplasmas be established as a new species within the Mycoplasmatales. One additional isolate, of questionable host origin, was also antigenically distinct from other Mycoplasmatales and is proposed as another new species. The identification of mycoplasmas originally recovered from porcine and caprine hosts as Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides supports recent evidence that this subspecies occurs in animals other than cattle. The results emphasize the importance of using proper type strains of M. mycoides subsp. mycoides and M. mycoides subsp. capri in serological identification of mycoplasmas recovered from animal hosts.