Isolation of mycoplasmas from pigeons suffering eye lesions and respiratory disease

without release could have exacerbated any existing infection as the stocking density was high, which enabled the rapid spread of the mycoplasma to many of the birds. The owner stated that some bought-in birds had had contact with sick, captive falcons. These falcons had been fed on live chicks and had themselves experienced high levels of mortality; however, there are no reports of the isolation of M columborale from chicks or birds of prey. There was no serological or cultural evidence of M gallisepticum in the affected pigeons. This report provides strong but not conclusive evidence that M columborale was the causative or synergistic agent in the present outbreak. Further work is needed to confirm these observations.