Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Antigen-Capture Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Specific Detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae
06:04

Antigen-Capture Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Specific Detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Published on: February 24, 2023

Mycoplasmas and respiratory disease in pheasants and partridges

J M Bradbury, C A Yavari, C M Dare

    Avian Pathology : Journal of the W.V.P.A
    |February 3, 2009
    PubMed

    Insights

    Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing significantly improved the detection of Mycoplasma gallisepticum in pheasants and partridges compared to traditional culture methods. Other Mycoplasma species may hinder M. gallisepticum isolation.

    Area of Science:

    • Avian Pathology
    • Microbiology
    • Veterinary Medicine

    Background:

    • Upper respiratory disease is a significant concern in farmed pheasants and partridges.
    • Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) are key avian pathogens.
    • Accurate diagnosis of mycoplasmosis is crucial for disease management.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To compare the efficacy of culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detecting Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae in diseased pheasants and partridges.
    • To identify other Mycoplasma species present in these birds and assess their potential impact on MG detection.

    Main Methods:

    • Disease incidents in pheasants and partridges were investigated using bacterial culture and commercial PCR kits for MG and MS.
    • Isolates were identified, and the prevalence of MG and MS was compared between culture and PCR methods.
    • The presence of other Mycoplasma species was noted, particularly in relation to MG isolation success.

    Main Results:

    • PCR detected significantly more Mycoplasma gallisepticum-positive incidents (15 in pheasants, 5 in partridges) than culture (4 in pheasants, 3 in partridges).
    • Fast-growing Mycoplasma species, including Mycoplasma glycophilum, Mycoplasma gallinaceum, and Mycoplasma pullorum, were frequently isolated.
    • Whole head specimens yielded more successful MG isolations and had fewer "contaminating" species compared to swabs or cultures from other labs.
    • Mycoplasma synoviae was rarely detected, with only one positive PCR result.

    Conclusions:

    • PCR is a more sensitive method than culture for diagnosing Mycoplasma gallisepticum infections in pheasants and partridges.
    • The presence of other Mycoplasma species may interfere with the isolation of M. gallisepticum.
    • Specimen type (whole head) and laboratory handling may influence diagnostic success for M. gallisepticum.

    More Related Videos

    Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Assays for the Species-specific Detection of Eimeria that Infect Chickens06:57

    Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Assays for the Species-specific Detection of Eimeria that Infect Chickens

    Published on: February 20, 2015

    Related Concept Videos

    Atypical Pneumonia01:14

    Atypical Pneumonia

    Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease include...
    Bacterial Phylum Tenericutes01:24

    Bacterial Phylum Tenericutes

    The phylum Tenericutes, which includes the single class Mollicutes, comprises bacteria that lack cell walls. The term "Mollicutes" derives from the Latin word mollis, meaning "soft." These organisms are among the smallest known and are commonly referred to as mycoplasmas due to the prominence of the genus Mycoplasma, which includes well-known human pathogens. Despite their inability to stain gram-positively (a result of their lack of cell walls), mycoplasmas are phylogenetically related to the...
    Pneumonia I: Introduction01:29

    Pneumonia I: Introduction

    Pneumonia is an infection of the lower respiratory tract that leads to inflammation of the lung parenchyma, often resulting in the accumulation of inflammatory exudate in the alveoli and airways. Unlike the watery, low-protein fluid exudate in pulmonary edema, the exudate in this case is a thick fluid rich in immune cells, proteins, and debris produced during infection and inflammation.This impairs gas exchange and can lead to consolidation of lung tissue. The infection may be caused by a...
    Bacterial Phylum Chlamydiae01:29

    Bacterial Phylum Chlamydiae

    The phylum Chlamydiae or Chlamydiota is composed of a single order, Chlamydiales. This phylum consists entirely of obligate intracellular parasites that infect eukaryotic hosts. While human pathogens within this group have been studied extensively, the phylum encompasses many species capable of interacting with various eukaryotic organisms. Members of Chlamydiae are typically small cocci, approximately 0.5 μm in diameter, and exhibit a distinctive developmental cycle. As is characteristic of...
    Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract01:29

    Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract

    The human respiratory tract, comprising the upper and lower segments, serves as a critical interface with the external environment. The upper respiratory tract (URT)—including the nostrils, sinuses, pharynx, and oropharynx—is heavily colonized by microbes, while the lower respiratory tract (LRT), composed of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, was long thought to be sterile. However, recent molecular studies have revealed that the lungs are not devoid of microbes but act more like...