Poultry Mycoplasma and Chronic Respiratory Disease

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Questions and Answers

What are the predominant lesions associated with Chronic Respiratory Disease (CRD) in poultry?

Airsacculitis, perihepatitis, and peritonitis.

How does Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) increase the risk of secondary infections in poultry?

MG opens the gate for other bacterial complications, especially E. coli.

What is CCRD and in what circumstances does it develop?

CCRD stands for complicated Chronic Respiratory Disease and develops after viral respiratory infections or poor management conditions.

What distinguishing characteristic allows Mycoplasma to pass through 0.2 micron filters?

Mycoplasma lacks a cell wall. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two known diseases caused by Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) in poultry?

Chronic respiratory disease (CRD) of chickens and infectious sinusitis of turkeys. Signup and view all the answers

Name one antibiotic that Mycoplasma is resistant to.

Penicillins. Signup and view all the answers

What is the class and order that Mycoplasma belongs to?

Class mollicutes and order mycoplasmatales. Signup and view all the answers

Identify a key characteristic of Mycoplasma that makes it difficult to stain.

Mycoplasma is poorly stained by bacterial stains. Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic of reduced virulence mycoplasma strains affects their clinical disease appearance?

Reduced virulence mycoplasma strains rarely show obvious clinical disease. Signup and view all the answers

Which transmission method is primarily responsible for the spread of reduced virulence mycoplasmas?

Mainly egg transmission. Signup and view all the answers

How does the detection of mycoplasma strains typically vary according to serological methods?

They are irregularly detected serologically but confirmed through in-vivo bioassay techniques in SPF chickens. Signup and view all the answers

List two important characteristics of mycoplasma related to their survival.

They are susceptible to heat and drying, and most disinfectants. Signup and view all the answers

What is the incubation period range for experimentally infected poultry with mycoplasmosis?

The incubation period is typically 6 to 21 days. Signup and view all the answers

What factors can trigger disease outbreaks in asymptomatic mycoplasma-infected birds?

Stress factors such as viral infections, vaccination with live viruses, cold weather, and crowding. Signup and view all the answers

Name the four most important species of mycoplasma affecting birds.

M. gallisepticum, M. synoviae, M. meleagridis, and M. imitans. Signup and view all the answers

What is the challenge related to isolating reduced virulence mycoplasma strains?

They are difficult to isolate. Signup and view all the answers

What are two common clinical signs of respiratory infection in infected chickens?

Coughing and sneezing. Signup and view all the answers

What disease condition in turkeys is characterized by poor growth and feathering?

Infectious synovitis (IS). Signup and view all the answers

List two effects of mycoplasmosis on egg production in chickens.

Atrophy of bursa and decreased egg production. Signup and view all the answers

Which mycoplasma strain shows the highest prevalence in Asia?

MG (Mycoplasma gallisepticum). Signup and view all the answers

What skeletal abnormalities can occur due to mycoplasmosis in chickens?

Chondrodystrophy and perosis. Signup and view all the answers

Identify one significant epidemiological difference between the prevalence of MG in East and West Europe.

MG prevalence in East Europe is 15-30%, while in West Europe it is 0-10%. Signup and view all the answers

What are two respiratory symptoms that suggest infection in chickens?

Dyspnea and nasal discharges. Signup and view all the answers

According to the 1998 survey, what is the prevalence of MS in Latin America?

25-60%. Signup and view all the answers

What are two common clinical signs of mycoplasmosis in poultry?

Conjunctivitis and sinusitis. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the primary direct losses caused by mycoplasmosis in poultry farms?

Decreased egg production. Signup and view all the answers

Identify a key factor that contributes to indirect economic losses due to mycoplasmosis.

Immunosuppression. Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of farms with multi-age layers is reported to be infected with MG in the U.S.?

75%. Signup and view all the answers

How much is the average loss per hen due to egg production decline from mycoplasmosis?

$1.00. Signup and view all the answers

What is the percentage range of hatchability drop due to acute egg drop in mycoplasmosis-infected flocks?

10-20%. Signup and view all the answers

Name two PM lesions associated with mycoplasmosis.

Trachea exudates and lung lesions. Signup and view all the answers

What is the total annual economic loss estimated for mycoplasmosis in U.S. commercial layers?

$97,160,000. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary concern with using the F strain vaccine in turkeys?

The F strain is unsuitable for turkeys because it is too virulent. Signup and view all the answers

How does aerosol vaccination with the F strain affect birds in the presence of IBV or NDV?

It may cause respiratory signs and air sacculitis. Signup and view all the answers

What impact does vaccination with the F strain have on egg production?

It reduces egg production significantly by 5.76% and 5.80%. Signup and view all the answers

In what way do bacterins help in managing M. gallisepticum infections?

Bacterins provide protection against egg-production drops and reduce egg transmission. Signup and view all the answers

What limitations are observed with the continued use of bacterins in multi-age farms?

Continued use of bacterins has failed to eliminate the infection. Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of semi-permanent antibiotic use on M. gallisepticum infections?

It can reduce damage but does not eliminate the infection from flocks. Signup and view all the answers

When should broilers be treated with antibiotics for M. gallisepticum?

Broilers should be treated at the first 4 days of life and again at the 19th day for 2 successive days. Signup and view all the answers

What is a critical consideration in the timing of antibiotic treatment for breeders?

Breeders should be treated following any respiratory vaccination, especially ND, for 2 successive days. Signup and view all the answers

What is one major limitation of treating Mycoplasma infections with antibiotics?

Mycoplasma develops resistance against the antibiotics. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary method to completely prevent the spread of MG positive flocks?

Depopulation of the MG positive flock. Signup and view all the answers

Why is vaccination not a standalone solution for controlling Mycoplasma?

No one control strategy fits every country and all bird species. Signup and view all the answers

What role does biosecurity play in managing Mycoplasma infections?

Biosecurity measures, such as sanitation and traffic control, are crucial for prevention. Signup and view all the answers

What is one method of treating hatching eggs for Mycoplasma?

Injecting eggs with 0.2 mg tylosine tylan® or using egg dipping methods. Signup and view all the answers

List one diagnostic method used for Mycoplasma surveillance.

Molecular diagnosis using PCR. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of surveillance in managing Mycoplasma infections?

Surveillance helps in the early detection and monitoring of infected birds. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the disease condition when medication is discontinued?

The disease increases again once the medication stops. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Mycoplasmosis in Poultry

Mycoplasmosis is a significant issue for the poultry industry globally.
It often leads to high costs.
Mycoplasmosis is commonly complicated by other respiratory infections, such as E. coli and viruses.
M. gallisepticum infections are named Chronic Respiratory Disease (CRD) in chickens and Infectious sinusitis of turkeys.
The causative agent, Mycoplasma, is the smallest free-living organism (bacteria-like).
Mycoplasma lacks a cell wall, is highly plastic, and can pass through 0.2 μm filters.
Mycoplasmas are pleomorphic (coccoidal and filamentous).
They are poorly stained by standard bacterial stains, have antibiotic resistance (e.g., to penicillins).
Specific Mycoplasma species include M. gallisepticum, M. synoviae, M. meleagridis and M. iowae.
Atypical strains of M. gallisepticum (MG) and M. synoviae (MS) may arise after treatments.
These strains exhibit reduced virulence, slow spread, and low transmissibility (primarily through eggs), and are also challenging to isolate and detect serologically.
The disease's pathogenesis involves attachment to cilia, depletion of amino acids, fatty acids and DNA precursors.
Toxic metabolites lead to cilia destruction, motility reduction and inflammation in the upper respiratory tract.
Other infections can also lead to CRD.
Mycoplasma infections can potentially lead to different disease conditions across various bird species (over 25 species).
Transmission can be direct (venereal, horizontal), or indirect with contaminants in feed, water, equipment, and from dust/aerosol droplets.
Birds can transmit horizontally to others by interacting directly and vertically through eggs.
Infected birds can be asymptomatic for days/months.
Factors such as viral infections, vaccination with live viruses, exposure to cold weather, and overcrowding can make infected birds symptomatic.
Mycoplasma can survive outside hosts for longer periods.
The incubation period for Mycoplasma infections varies in natural cases, taking 6 to 21 days in experimental infections.
Mycoplasma infections often induce variable disease conditions, involving specific clinical signs according to the affected organ/tissue.
For example, in chickens Mycoplasma Gallisepticum often leads to Chronic Respiratory Disease (CRD), including, airsaculitis, perihepatitis, and peritonitis, along with reduced feed efficiency, reduced growth rate, carcass downgrades, egg production.
Mycoplasma infections affect various species, including chickens, turkeys, ducks, quail, ostriches, pheasants, pigeons, fowl, and budgerigars, among others.
Mycoplasma infections can be prevalent in different geographical locations.
Different Mycoplasma species vary in their prevalence across different regions.
Mycoplasma can lead to clinical signs, such as depression, rales, coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, dyspnea, decreased weight gain, feed efficiency, and decreased egg production.
Mycoplasma infections can also result in changes in organs/tissues, like lesions in the air sacs, trachea and lungs. Changes include thickening of tissues in organs such as the heart, and in the pectoral muscles.
Mycoplasmosis causes significant economic losses in poultry farms through direct losses (from chronic respiratory diseases like CRD and lower efficiency, growth rates, and egg production) and indirect losses (like immunosuppression and increased susceptibility to other diseases).
Significant numbers of infected farms and birds are affected in the US in commercial layers. Percentages of infected farms and economic losses are detailed numerically.
Mycoplasmosis can severely impact hatchability.
Embryo mortality is reported in Mycoplasma infected flocks.
The mortality is highest after eggs are transferred to hatchers and at pipping.
Live Mycoplasma vaccines can show varying effects, and these methods aren't always suitable for use in turkeys.
Inactivated vaccines are used for protection against egg production drops from MG exposure in multi-age layers and they decrease egg transmission in pullets.
Antibiotics may reduce damage from MG infection but cannot eliminate it completely.
The use of antibiotics could lead to antimicrobial resistance.
The most effective control measure is flock depopulation, though this approach may not always be practical.
Proper egg treatment with antibiotics is used to help stop the spread of Mycoplasma, even though it may not eliminate infections entirely.
General control strategies are not universal, varying by region and specific bird species.
Measures of control can include biosecurity, diagnostics, surveillance, control of infected birds, depopulation, and vaccination.
Biosecurity measures are crucial for disease prevention.
Molecular and standard diagnostics are used for surveillance and monitoring of infections.
Proper disposal of dead birds is necessary.
Prevention and control strategies should prioritize measures to break the cycle of infection, susceptibility, transmission, and contamination.

Specific topics for Mycoplasmosis in Poultry

Introduction
Etiology and characteristics
Strains of Mycoplasma
Pathogenesis and epidemiology
Disease condition
Clinical Signs and Post-Mortem (PM) lesions.
Economic losses
Prevention and control
Conclusions

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Description

This quiz explores the significant aspects of Chronic Respiratory Disease (CRD) in poultry, with a focus on Mycoplasma gallisepticum and its impact on poultry health. It covers lesions, antibiotic resistance, and diagnostic challenges associated with mycoplasmas. Perfect for students and professionals in veterinary sciences and poultry management.