Gliding movement of Mycoplasma sp. nov. strain 163K on erythrocytes

Observations by both dark-field and differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy revealed that Mycoplasma sp. nov. strain 163K, a mycoplasma isolated from the gills of a freshwater fish, is able to glide on bovine and ovine erythrocytes. Some organisms simply crossed the erythrocytes, some moved in irregular circles on the surface of the erythrocytes, and some circled around the erythrocytes one or more times. The ability to glide on living cells is discussed as a substantial factor in infection and pathogenicity.