Isolation of Acholeplasmatales from rabbit faeces

Acholeplasma laidlawii was isolated from the faeces of 23.5% and 24% of groups of 51 conventional and 45 specified-pathogen-free (SPF) rabbits respectively. Isolation of the organism from individual animals could often be repeated, suggesting that infection was not merely transient. Two further acholeplasmas were isolated from two SPF rabbits. One was serologically related to Acholeplasma modicum. The other could not be identified and may be a new species.