Mycoplasma

Mycoplasma infections cause a wide range of clinical conditions, particularly among pigs, cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry. Certain mycoplasmas are part of normal mucosal flora, and can outgrow pathogenic mycoplasmas in broth culture procedures. In general, special media is required for growth of mycoplasmas. Some mycoplasmas are slow growing, taking up to three weeks to appear in primary culture or in subcultures.

• Mycoplasma (birds)
• Mycoplasma (pigs)
• Mycoplasma (cattle, sheep, goats)

Mycoplasma (birds)

Description

Avian mycoplasmosis is a cause of respiratory disease in chickens, turkeys, quail, game birds, pigeons and other avian species; many different Mycoplasma species are potentially involved, but particularly M.gallisepticum in chickens and M.meleagridis in turkeys. Mycoplasma synoviae can cause respiratory signs as well as tenosynovitis. Mycoplasma infection damages the lining of the upper respiratory tract and thereby predisposes birds to deeper respiratory disease involving the lungs and airsacs by secondary pathogens. Strains vary greatly in their pathogenicity.

Mycoplasmas can be spread vertically in the egg, as well as horizontally by respiratory fomites. The commercial boiler chicken industry is free from mycoplasmosis, as is much of the commercial turkey industry. Vaccination with live attenuated strains of mycoplasma, to replacement layer pullets going onto multi-age layer farms is commonly practiced: vaccinated birds become carriers of the vaccine strain. There are several non-pathogenic avian mycoplasmas such as M.gallinarum and M.gallinaceum which may be isolated from cases of upper respiratory tract disease but have no causal aetiological significance.

Diagnosis and tests available

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is based on clinical signs, management history and mycoplasma culture; further identification and species characterisation requires 16S-ribosomal PCR.

Tests available

¹ Turnaround times are provided as a guide only. TAT does not include weekends or Public Holidays. For specific information about your submission please contact Customer Service.

* Denotes analyses not covered by the NATA scope of accreditation.

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Specimen requirements

Mycoplasma (pigs)

Also known as Porcine enzootic pneumonia

Description

Mycoplasmal pneumonia is a common chronic disease particularly in grower finisher pigs, and increases susceptibility of pigs to secondary infection, most commonly Pasteurella multocida, but also Arcanobacter pyogenes, Haemophilus sp, Streptococcus sp, Staphylococcus sp, Klebsiella sp, and Bordetella bronchiseptica. M. hyosynoviae also causes synovitis and arthritis.

M. hyorhinis is a common inhabitant of the URT and ears (Eustachian tube), and is a common co-inhabitant of pneumonic lungs. It has no pneumonic potential and can rapidly overgrow M. hyopneumoniae cultures. It can cause a serofibrinous polyserositis, or fibrinous arthritis in suckers or weaners less than 10 weeks old.

Diagnosis and tests available

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is based on clinical signs, management history and mycoplasma culture and PCR.

Tests available

¹ Turnaround times are provided as a guide only. TAT does not include weekends or Public Holidays. For specific information about your submission please contact Customer Service.

* Denotes analyses not covered by the NATA scope of accreditation.

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Specimen requirements

Mycoplasma (cattle, sheep, goats)

Description

Mycoplasma spp bovine Group 7 is a frequent cause of polyarthritis in calves. It can also cause outbreaks of bovine mastitis and abortion. This organism is readily cultured, and is occasionally cultivable on blood agar cultures without special mycoplasmal media. Other Mycoplasma spp are associated with bovine mastitis, eye lesions, reproductive lesions, and caprine and ovine arthritis, mastitis and pneumonia.

Diagnosis and tests available

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is based on clinical signs, management history and mycoplasma culture and PCR.

Tests available

¹ Turnaround times are provided as a guide only. TAT does not include weekends or Public Holidays. For specific information about your submission please contact Customer Service.

* Denotes analyses not covered by the NATA scope of accreditation.

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Specimen requirements

Additional Information