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(pleuropneumonia-like organisms, PPLO) An order containing extremely small parasitic microorganisms, some of which are only 100 nm in diameter. Mycoplasmas are gram-negative, mostly nonmotile, and lack a rigid cell wall. Most species require sterols for growth. They are thought to be responsible for certain yellows diseases of plants and have been implicated in witches broom of alfalfa and maize stunt. They cause various serious diseases in animals, e.g. pleuropneumonia, bovine mastitis, and puerperal septicaemia.
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