Establishment of a polymerase chain reaction assay for monitoring mycoplasma infection in laboratory mice colony

Abstract

This study presents the development of an in-house polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay designed for detecting Mycoplasma infections in laboratory mouse colonies. The 16S rRNA gene, conserved among four Mycoplasma species commonly found in mice, was targeted to ensure broad detection. The assay demonstrated high sensitivity, with a detection limit of 0.1 pg, and excellent specificity, as no amplification was observed with genomic DNA from other organisms, including Mus musculus and various bacterial pathogens. Screening 30 lung tissue samples from laboratory mice confirmed the absence of Mycoplasma infection, indicating the assay’s potential utility in routine health monitoring of animal colonies. This PCR method offers an efficient, specific, and sensitive alternative for pathogen surveillance, supporting improved animal welfare and research reliability.