Monitoring during axenic derivation includes checking for the absence of which organism to prevent transplacental transmission?

Monitoring during axenic derivation includes checking for the absence of which organism to prevent transplacental transmission?

• A. Salmonella spp.
• B. Mycoplasma spp.
• C. Giardia spp.
• D. Escherichia coli

Answer: (B)

During axenic derivation, keeping the lineage free from microbes is essential, and a key part of that is preventing any pathogen from crossing from dam to fetus. Mycoplasma species are especially relevant here because they can be transmitted transplacentally, meaning infection can pass from dam to developing offspring and compromise the axenic status before birth. These organisms are small, lack a cell wall, and are notoriously difficult to detect with routine methods, so actively monitoring for their absence helps ensure the fetus remains uninfected and the derivation stays truly axenic. While other organisms are important to screen for in general facility health, the transplacental transmission risk during derivation is most closely associated with Mycoplasma spp., which is why its absence is specifically checked.

During axenic derivation, keeping the lineage free from microbes is essential, and a key part of that is preventing any pathogen from crossing from dam to fetus. Mycoplasma species are especially relevant here because they can be transmitted transplacentally, meaning infection can pass from dam to developing offspring and compromise the axenic status before birth. These organisms are small, lack a cell wall, and are notoriously difficult to detect with routine methods, so actively monitoring for their absence helps ensure the fetus remains uninfected and the derivation stays truly axenic. While other organisms are important to screen for in general facility health, the transplacental transmission risk during derivation is most closely associated with Mycoplasma spp., which is why its absence is specifically checked.