TY - JOUR T1 - Prevalence of Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae in commercial poultry, racing pigeons and wild birds in Belgium. JF - Avian Pathol Y1 - 2016 A1 - Michiels, Tinne A1 - Sarah Welby A1 - Vanrobaeys, Mia A1 - Quinet, Christian A1 - Rouffaer, Lieze A1 - Lens, Luc A1 - Martel, An A1 - Butaye, Patrick KW - Animals KW - Belgium KW - Birds KW - Columbidae KW - Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay KW - Female KW - Male KW - Mycoplasma gallisepticum KW - Mycoplasma Infections KW - Mycoplasma synoviae KW - Poultry KW - Poultry Diseases KW - prevalence KW - Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction AB -

Mycoplasma gallisepticum is the most important pathogenic avian Mycoplasma species and causes chronic respiratory disease in poultry. In addition, the prevalence of Mycoplasma synoviae is of increasing concern in several EU member states. We investigated the prevalence of M. gallisepticum in commercial poultry (5220 layers, 1224 broilers and 1020 meat turkeys), 56 racing pigeons and 890 wild birds (Order Anseriformes, Galliformes, Pelecaniformes, Accipitriformes, Gruiformes, Charadriiformes, Columbiformes, Strigiformes, Falconiformes and Passeriformes). Broilers and wild birds were also evaluated for Mycoplasma synoviae. Dependent on the bird lifespan and the nature of the sample, different diagnostic tests were used including the rapid plate agglutination test, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), polymerase chain reaction and real-time polymerase chain reaction. A low prevalence of M. gallisepticum was found in both layers (0.9%; 95% CI: 0.7-1.2%) and broilers (2.7%; 95% CI: 1.9-3.8%) possibly due to reduced vertical transmission by breeder farms, which are under official surveillance. None of the samples from turkeys or racing pigeons tested positive. In wild birds, we found five birds were positive (1.7%; 95% CI: 0.7-3.9%): one wood pigeon, two grey herons, one mallard and one Eurasian magpie. For M. synoviae a high prevalence was found in broilers (12.9%: 95% CI: 11.1-14.9%). Four samples collected by hunters gave a positive result for M. synoviae (4%: 95% CI: 1.6-9.8%): one carrion crow and three wood pigeons. In addition, 12 house sparrows were found to be positive (3%; 95% CI: 1.7-5.2%). Wild birds probably play a limited role as a reservoir but we cannot exclude a possible impact on transmission of Mycoplasmas.

VL - 45 CP - 2 U1 - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26814376?dopt=Abstract M3 - 10.1080/03079457.2016.1145354 ER -