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Outbreak of disease associated with Mycoplasma meleagridis in a free‐range mixed poultry farm
Author(s) -
Catania Salvatore,
Rodio Stefania,
Moronato Maria Luisa,
Ayling Roger D,
Nicholas Robin A J
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
veterinary record case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.165
H-Index - 4
ISSN - 2052-6121
DOI - 10.1136/vetreccr-2014-000107
Subject(s) - flock , outbreak , biosecurity , veterinary medicine , mycoplasma , medicine , mycoplasma gallisepticum , pathogen , poultry farming , temperature gradient gel electrophoresis , virology , biology , 16s ribosomal rna , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , pathology , genetics
Mycoplasma meleagridis is mainly a pathogen of turkeys causing poor growth and skeletal abnormalities. Very few cases have been reported in poultry in Europe over the last 20 years largely because of control measures including selective breeding and strict biosecurity. The authors report here evidence of M meleagridis infection in a flock of free‐range turkeys and, for the first time, in guinea fowl presenting decreased growth rate and significant mortality, which were in direct contact with the turkeys. The majority of turkeys were seropositive for M meleagridis but the guinea fowl were seronegative. M meleagridis was isolated by culture and identified by PCR/denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and 16S rDNA sequencing in the cloacae and tracheas of several affected turkeys and the cloacae of guinea fowl.