Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification LAMP Assays for the Species-specific Detection of Eimeria that Infect Chickens
06:57

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

Published on: February 20, 2015

27.0K

Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae in Turkeys in Poland

Olimpia Kursa1, Grzegorz Tomczyk1, Agata Sieczkowska1

  • 1Department of Poultry Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, 24-100 Puławy, Poland.

Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 22, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Pathogenic Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and M. synoviae (MS) cause significant poultry losses. This study investigated their prevalence and molecular epidemiology in Polish turkey flocks, finding MG in 8.33% and MS in 9.72% of broiler flocks.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Microbiology
  • Poultry Pathology
  • Molecular Epidemiology

Background:

  • Pathogenic mycoplasmas, including Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and M. synoviae (MS), are major threats to the global poultry industry.
  • These bacteria cause significant economic losses through chronic respiratory disease, reduced growth, and decreased egg production and hatchability.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and molecular epidemiology of MG and MS in turkey flocks in Poland.
  • To identify co-infections with other potential bacterial pathogens that may exacerbate mycoplasma-induced diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Collection of tracheal samples from 144 turkey broiler flocks and 40 turkey breeder flocks between 2015 and 2023.
  • Detection and quantification of MG and MS using real-time PCR targeting specific genes (16S rRNA, mgc2 for MG; 16-23S rRNA, vlhA for MS).
  • Molecular characterization through PCR and sequencing, including phylogenetic analysis of isolates. Identification of other bacterial pathogens using additional tests.

Main Results:

  • Mycoplasma gallisepticum was detected in 8.33% of turkey broiler flocks, and M. synoviae in 9.72% of turkey broiler flocks.
  • Phylogenetic analysis indicated MG isolates were predominantly ts-11-like strains, while MS isolates were similar to strains associated with EAA (Enzootic Aviary Adenitis) in laying hens.
  • Co-infections with secondary bacterial pathogens such as Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale, Gallibacterium anatis, Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Riemerella anatipestifer were identified.

Conclusions:

  • MG and MS are prevalent in Polish turkey broiler populations, with distinct genetic profiles suggesting potential sources of infection.
  • The presence of secondary bacterial pathogens may significantly increase the severity and impact of mycoplasma infections in turkeys.
  • Molecular surveillance and characterization are crucial for understanding the epidemiology and controlling these economically important poultry diseases.
Keywords:
Mycoplasma gallisepticumMycoplasma synoviaerespiratory tractturkeys

More Related Videos

Environmental Screening of Aeromonas hydrophila, Mycobacterium spp., and Pseudocapillaria tomentosa in Zebrafish Systems09:58

Environmental Screening of Aeromonas hydrophila, Mycobacterium spp., and Pseudocapillaria tomentosa in Zebrafish Systems

Published on: December 8, 2017

9.9K
Antigen-Capture Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Specific Detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae06:04

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

Published on: February 24, 2023

2.4K

Related Concept Videos

Synthetic Biology02:55

Synthetic Biology

Synthetic biology is an interdisciplinary science that involves using principles from disciplines such as engineering, molecular biology, cell biology, and systems biology. It involves remodeling existing organisms from nature or constructing completely new synthetic organisms for applications such as protein or enzyme production, bioremediation, value-added macromolecule production, and the addition of desirable traits to crops, to name a few.
Golden rice
Golden rice is a genetically modified...
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...
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...
Poliomyelitis01:17

Poliomyelitis

Poliomyelitis is caused by poliovirus, a small, non-enveloped, positive-sense RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family and Enterovirus genus. Transmission occurs primarily via the fecal-oral route, often through ingestion of contaminated water or food. The virus initially replicates in the oropharynx and intestinal mucosa, particularly in lymphoid tissues such as the tonsils, Peyer’s patches, and regional lymph nodes. Primary viremia follows, allowing dissemination throughout the body.In most...
Toxoplasmosis01:28

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, poses significant public health challenges globally due to its high seroprevalence and varied clinical manifestations. As an obligate intracellular parasite, T. gondii can infect all warm-blooded vertebrates, but felids are its only definitive hosts, shedding unsporulated oocysts into the environment. Humans typically acquire the infection through ingestion of tissue cysts in undercooked meat or oocysts from...
Trichomoniasis01:18

Trichomoniasis

Trichomonas vaginalis is a flagellated protozoan parasite and the causative agent of trichomoniasis, one of the most prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted infections in the United States. This extracellular parasite primarily colonizes the lower genitourinary tract in women—particularly the vagina—and in men, the urethra and prostate. Its structural and functional adaptations enable its survival, motility, and pathogenicity within the host environment.Structural Features and Host EntryT.