171. Mycoplasma diseases of turkey.

Question 1

Occurence aetiology epidemiology?

Answer 1

Meleagridis mycoplasmosis of turkey

Occurrence:

• used to be widespread,
• eradication programmes (nowadays quite rare)

Aetiology: M. meleagridis

• Virulence variants
• Turkey are susceptible, chicken have no signs

Epidemiology

• Transmission: mainly sexual, egg (cocks infect hens & hens lay eggs)
• (Aerogenic infection only in day old birds in hatchery machine – rare, no CS)
• Present in the genitals
• Eradicated from breeding flocks

Question 2

Pathogenenesis and clinical signs?

Answer 2

Pathogenesis

• Infection sexually and with respiratory discharges
• Infected eggs will be laid
• Replication in the embryo, spreads in the embryo: dead eggs; infected birds will be hatched
• Replication in air sacks - replication in air sacks extending into bones
• Saccus interclavicularis: humerus
• Sacci cerviculares: cervical vertebrae, spinal cord - Ossification disorders, neurological
• symptoms
• Replication in joints and bursae

Clinical signs

• Decreased hatching rate, weak poults
• 1-10 weeks old
• Bone disorders,
• arthritis,
• movement disorders -
• Tibia inclines,
• enlarged joints (hock),
• torsion of the neck

Question 3

Pathology, diagnosis and treatment prevention?

Answer 3

Pathology

• Air sacculitis in day-old animals
• Bone deformities, porous bones

• Diagnosis

• Epidemiology – clinical signs – pathology
• Detection of the agent: isolation, PCR
• Detection of antibodies: agglutination, ELISA

• Treatment, prevention:

• as M. gallisepticum

Question 4

Diseases of poultry caused by other mycoplasmas?

Answer 4

Diseases of poultry caused by other mycoplasmas

• M. iowae: chicken, turkey: air sacculitis, embryo damage, arthritis
• M. anatis, M. anseris, M. cloacale : water fowl - respiratory; arthritis; reproduction disorders
• M. columborale, M. columbium: pigeon: air sacculitis ]