Molecular prevalence and characterization of Mycoplasma capricolum subspecies Capripneumoniae (MCCP) in sheep and goats from Andhra Pradesh, India

Mycoplasma capricolum subspecies capripneumoniae (Mccp) is the etiological agent of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP), a severe and economically significant notifiable disease affecting sheep and goats. While the incidence of CCPP has been documented in India, confirmatory data on its prevalence across the large geographical region of Andhra Pradesh remain lacking. Although goats are considered the primary host of CCPP, its impact on sheep has also been observed. The present study provides definitive evidence of the widespread prevalence of Mccp in sheep and goats across several districts of Andhra Pradesh from January 2023 to December 2024. Out of 63 samples tested by the Mccp arcD gene-specific PCR, 61 percent of sheep samples and 31 percent of goat samples yielded positive amplification of the expected 316 bp PCR products. These findings confirm the widespread prevalence of Mccp in sheep along with its primary host, goat. The research also documents the year-round incidence of CCPP, with both unilateral and bilateral lung involvement in sheep and goats. Genomic sequence analysis of five isolates representing different geographical areas of the state showed 98–100% nucleotide sequence identity with Mccp field isolates from India and other countries. Furthermore, no genetic divergence was observed between Mccp isolates from sheep and goats in this study. These findings confirm the prevalence of CCPP in sheep, highlighting its significance as an emerging host species, with notable bilateral lung involvement observed in both sheep and goats. This emphasizes the critical need for targeted control measures and enhanced surveillance to mitigate the impact of CCPP on small ruminant populations in Andhra Pradesh.