The Effect of Porcine Mycoplasmas on Pig Tracheal Organ Cultures

Abstract
Summary: Tracheal organ cultures were made from 2–3 week old pigs. Tracheal rings were used to assess the pathogenicity of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, M. hyorhinis, M. granularum and M. hyosynoviae. Both serum‐resistant and serum‐sensitive strains of M. hyorhinis had a marked effect on ciliary activity and caused necrosis of the epithelium. Mycoplasma granularum and M. hyosynoviae caused cessation of ciliary movement, but to a less extent, and necrosis did not occur. With M. hyopneumoniae, the infected organ cultures survived longer than the control cultures.