Binucleate Classical Mycoplasmas Pathogenic for Goats

The growth of three pathogenic goat mycoplasmas, strains Y, KH1 and Mycoplasma mycoides var. capri (PG3), was studied. They formed classical colonies on agar containing 1/500 thallium acetate. They were inactivated during storage at 2 to 4 C and by freezing and thawing but not by shaking. Only KH1 was killed by sonic treatment. Ultraviolet inactivation curves showed that their colony-forming units were single binucleate cells. Details of their growth curves are given. Filtration through 0.45- or 0.3-mum membrane filters removed up to 97% of the cells. Less than 0.003% passed 0.22-mum membranes. In electron micrographs, the cells were seen replicating by budding and most were 0.6 to 0.9 mum in diameter; but cells between 0.1 and 0.2 mum reproduced. They usually multiplied by producing one bud, a form of binary fission. However, two buds were produced by some synchronized cells, indicating that both nuclei had divided simultaneously to form progeny, an alternate method of multiplication.