Experimental arthritis induced by Mycoplasma pneumoniae in rabbits

Experimental arthritis in rabbits was induced by M. pneumoniae. We compared it with the arthritis produced by well known animal arthritogenic agents (M. pulmonis and M. arthritidis). Mycoplasmas were detected in the knee joint by different techniques. M. pneumoniae and M. pulmonis produced an acute arthritis that resolved in 2 weeks while, M. arthritidis produced a chronic arthritis. Live M. pneumoniae and M. pulmonis were recovered from the joint during all the experiments. No live M. arthritidis was detected. Live mycoplasmas play an important role in acute arthritis. A similar inflammatory pattern was shown by M. pneumoniae and M. pulmonis. This animal model could be helpful in the study of arthritis induced by a human pathogen mycoplasma.