A specific PCR assay based on unique sequences of the rrs genes (16S rRNA) of Mycoplasma conjunctivae was developed for direct detection and identification of this pathogen from clinical material. DNA from eye swabs was amplified after a simple lysis step by either a single PCR with the M. conjunctivae specific primer pair McoR1 and McoF1, or by a nested PCR with the Mycoplasma genus specific primer pair MOLIGEN1-L and 16UNI-R in the first step and McoR1 and McoF1 in the second step. The specificity of the primer pair McoR1 and McoF1 was verified with purified DNA from the type strain, from 17 field isolates of M. conjunctivae and from several Mollicutes which are phylogenetically related to M. conjunctivae or which can be isolated from the same host animals. This method identified mycoplasma isolates from goat, sheep, ibex and chamois originating from different countries as M. conjunctivae. No cross amplifications with other mycoplasmas which are related to M. conjunctivae were observed. Eye swab samples containing known numbers of M. conjunctivae cells were analysed after direct lysis of the material. The detection level was estimated to be 20 cells per swab when the nested PCR procedure was used and 2 x 10(5) by the single PCR method. In an experimental infection model of sheep, the nested PCR method for detection of M. conjunctivae gave results which were comparable to mycoplasmal culture. These are the implications for diagnostic purposes: M. conjunctivae isolates can be identified by the one-step PCR method, whereas for detection and identification of M. conjunctivae in clinical material the two-step method should be used (higher sensitivity).