In vitro interaction between Mycoplasma agalactiae and small ruminants endogenous bacterial strains of Enterococcus spp. and coagulase negative Staphylococcus

Contagious agalactia is an important disease in the caprine and ovine sector due to the important economic losses it produces. The prevention and control of this disease is difficult as no adequate therapy (antibiotics and/or vaccination) is currently available. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to evaluate the interactions of the main bacteria responsible for contagious agalactia, Mycoplasma agalactiae, with other bacteria naturally present in small ruminants. The results of this study showed that the growth of Mycoplasma agalactiae was negatively altered by some bacteria while some had no effect on its growth. These results could help understanding how this pathogen interacts with other bacterial populations that are present in sheep and goats. The monitoring of these interactions could help finding an alternative treatment for contagious agalactia based on the use of probiotic bacteria capable of inhibiting the pathogen.