"Mycoplasma causes serious diseases in humans, animals and plants." Substantiate the statement with suitable examples.
The statement holds true, as Mycoplasma, unique for lacking a cell wall, causes a range of serious diseases across diverse hosts.
In humans, Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common culprit behind "walking pneumonia," a persistent respiratory infection, and tracheobronchitis. Other species, like Mycoplasma genitalium and Mycoplasma hominis, are significant causes of urogenital tract infections, urethritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and can lead to complications in pregnancy and newborns.
For animals, Mycoplasma infections are devastating. Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides causes contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), a highly fatal cattle disease. Mycoplasma bovis leads to mastitis, arthritis, and pneumonia in cattle, while Mycoplasma gallisepticum is responsible for chronic respiratory disease and reduced egg production in poultry.
In plants, these pathogens, often referred to as phytoplasmas, cause "yellows-type" diseases. Notable examples include little leaf of brinjal, characterized by small, distorted leaves and bushy growth; sandal spike, causing severe stunting and spiky foliage in sandalwood trees; citrus greening, leading to fruit malformation and tree decline; and witches' broom, resulting in abnormal proliferation of shoots in many woody plants.
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