Some Epidemiological Studies on Mycoplasma iowae Infection in Poultry

Abstract

An investigation of M iowae infection in turkeys, chickens, ducks and pigeons was caniod out in Upper Egypt (EI-Minia, Assiut and Sohag governoates) on samples collected from a lo!al number of 137 infertile eggs, 180 dead in shell and pipped embryos and 405 birds M._iowae constituted 7 14% of the mycoplasma flora in turkey 'embryos, 1.85% in turkeys under 1 weeks of age, 2.17% in turkeys over 4 weeks of age, 27% in turkey Ioeles and 0.9% in chickens No M iowae isolates were recovered from ducks or pigeons 1he colonial morphological features and biochemical pallerns of isolates were identical to [ho general characters of AM iowae Electron microscopy revealed pleomorphism of M. iowae and absence of significant morphological differences among isolates. Filamentous and coccal [oms were observed with predominance of filamentous forms in the early phase of growth and coccal forms in the later growlh phase. Extracellular coaling .. material was demonstrated wilh SEM and TEM SDS.PAGE substantiated the serological identification of. M. iowae isolates and revealed minor but distinct and:reproducible variation in the protein banding pattern of isolales In vitro sensitivity of isolales to antimycoplasmal agents indicated thal M iowae was highly sensitive to [luoroquinolones, particularly enrofloxacin Isolates were sensitive to Lincospectin"and doxycyclime, slightly sensitive to flumequine, oxy!ehiacycline, spectinomycin and spiramycin, poorly sensitive to erythromycin and tetracycline and resistant to gentamicin and streptomycin - Inoculation of isolates into the yolk sac of embryonated eggs resulted in late embryonic deaths with variation i- pathogenicity among isolates. Turkey embryos were more susceptible than chicken embryos. The nain lesions observed in Ihe inoculated embryos were stunting, congestion, subcutaneous ha' emorrhages, oedema around the head and neck, leg deformities and liver abnormalities Some embryos had abnormal feathering and oedematous CAMs