IsMycoplasma synoviaeoutrunningMycoplasma gallisepticum? A viewpoint from the Netherlands

Abstract

Mycoplasma gallisepticum and M. synoviae are the most relevant mycoplasma species for commercial poultry from the clinical and economic point of view. Although the importance of M. gallisepticum was recognized many decades ago, the relevance of M. synoviae has been a matter of debate. Until the turn of the century, only the respiratory and synovitis forms of the disease were reported, while the majority of infections were subclinical. Since the year 2000 M. synoviae strains with oviduct tropism, able to induce eggshell apex abnormalities and egg drops, have been encountered worldwide. A decreasing incidence of M. gallisepticum has been observed, at least in breeding stock, in countries with control and eradication programmes for this Mycoplasma species. In contrast, the sero-prevalence of M. synoviae is much higher, especially in layer flocks, and in most continents exceeds 70%. Given the emergence of virulent M. synoviae strains with oviduct tropism, its ability to also induce joint and respiratory disease, to act synergistically with other pathogens as well as its much higher sero-prevalence, it seems that M. synoviae is outrunning M. gallisepticum, at least in countries with control and eradication programmes for the latter. This stresses the need to update M. synoviae prevention and control strategies. Thus, in January 2013, the Dutch poultry industry implemented a mandatory control and eradication programme for M. synoviae at all levels of poultry farming with the exception of broilers.

Molecular identification of Mycoplasma synoviae from seroprevalent commercial breeder farms at Chittagong district, Bangladesh

“…Age is a very important parameter influencing the incidence of mycoplasmosis [9,33,34]. The seroprevalence of MS was found higher in the advancing age groups.…”

Rapid and sensitive detection of Mycoplasma synoviae by an insulated isothermal polymerase chain reaction-based assay on a field-deployable device

“…MS infection could lead to symptoms including sinusitis, airsacculitis, synovitis, and eggshell apex abnormalities and result in reduction in egg production and meat quality, leading to considerable economic losses in the poultry industry worldwide (Kleven, 2008; Landman, 2014). MS infection is found commonly in chickens, turkeys, and guinea fowl, but less frequently in ducks, geese, and pigeons (Kleven, 2008; OIE, 2015).…”

Mycoplasma synoviae and Reovirus: (re)emerging infectious diseases in broiler Breeders

“…If infection occurs during the grow-out phase, it will affected by environmental factors and disease severity is increased during the winter months. Temperature, ventilation, humidity, atmospheric ammonia and dust all have important interactions with infectious agents in producing respiratory disease (Landman, 2014). Atmospheric dust significantly increased the severity of air sac lesions, and chickens maintained at environmental temperatures of 7-10ºC were more susceptible to airsacculitis caused by M. synoviae than chickens maintained at 24-29ºC (Kleven, 2003).…”

“…Mycoplasma synoviae most frequently occurs as a subclinical upper respiratory infection. It may cause air sac lesions when combined with other respiratory agents such as Newcastle disease virus (NDV), infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), or both (Landman, 2014). Other times, M. synoviae becomes systemic and results in infectious synovitis, an acute to chronic infectious disease of chickens and turkeys, primarily involving joint synovial membranes and tendon sheaths, and producing exudative synovitis, tenovaginitis, or bursitis (Ferguson-Noel and Noormohammadi, 2013).…”

“…In most cases, the egg production will recover but remain below the standard curve (Stipkovits and Kempf, 1996). The clinical and economic relevance of M. synoviae seems to be increasing considering the number of publications worldwide and the emergence of strains affecting eggshell quality ( Figure 3) and egg production, and the emergence of arthropatic and amyloidogenic strains in some countries (Landman, 2014).…”