Comparative efficiency of some rapid agglutination antigens for Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection

Varying compositions of growth media for Mycoplasma galli-septicum were used in attempts to produce rapid slide agglutination antigens of high yield and improved specificity. Some of the media barely supported growth, others yielded antigen no better than that from conventional media. Two media gave good results. One was a conventional medium with horse serum replaced by foetal calf serum. The other was a conventional medium containing 10% horse serum, but at high pH (8.4). When compared with four commercial antigens in tests using antisera to M. gallisepticum, M. synoviae or gamma-globulin both experimental antigens had superior specificity, without loss of sensitivity.