Mycoplasma pulmonis in Rats

Murine respiratory mycoplasmosis (MRM), also known as chronic respiratory disease in rodent species, is caused by Mycoplasma pulmonis. MRM is a chronic and progressive disease, in which an infected patient can present with variable clinical signs. Differential diagnoses for MRM include other bacterial and viral pathogens, but such agents are usually intercurrent with M. pulmonis. Diagnosis of MRM has traditionally been based on isolation of the bacteria from individual rats, but multiplex fluorescent immunoassay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and polymerase chain reaction testing for M. pulmonis is available for individual testing and colony surveillance. Treatment considerations should focus on addressing the bacterial organism that contributes to infection and also the chronic inflammation associated with the disease process.