Involvement of Mycoplasma Synoviae in Respiratory Distress
Cases of Broilers
S. Ehtisham-ul-Haque*1,
S. U. Rahman, M. Siddique and
A. S. Qureshi1
Department of Microbiology; 1Department
of Anatomy,
University of
Agriculture, Faisalabad-38040, Pakistan; *Department
of Microbiology, College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Jhang, Pakistan *Corresponding author:
ehtisham555syed@hotmail.com
Abstract
Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) is an important pathogen of poultry worldwide,
causing respiratory tract infection and infectious synovitis in chickens and
turkeys. The study was designed to detect
M. synoviae through serology, culture isolation and polymerase chain
reaction (PCR) assay to document the involvement of MS infection in respiratory
distress cases of broiler birds. The validated PCR assay amplifying the
conserved gene region of 16SrRNA gene
was applied for the detection of M.
synoviae from culture as well as in clinical samples.
The results indicated that 04 out of
total 17 commercial broiler flocks showing respiratory distress signs were found
positive with M. synoviae infection
indicating 76.57% sero-positivity as, determined with rapid serum
agglutination (RSA) test. Out of 85
clinical specimens (collected from sero-positive birds);
M. synoviae culture isolation was
successfully attained in 36 (42.35%) samples. Whereas, PCR test has detected 84
(98.82%) positive cases. The prevalence of MS in broiler birds was
observed maximum as measured through PCR. It is suggested that the true
prevalence of MS may best be reflected by combining RSA and PCR test findings.