Isolation of Mycoplasmas from Clinically Healthy Adult Breeding Geese in Germany

Abstract

S u m m a r y Cloaca1 swabs from adult breeding geese of both sexes from six separate farms were culturally examined for mycoplasmas. Geese from these flocks did not show any clinical signs of illness, increased mortality or drop in egg production during the reproductive season.The results revealed the presence of mycoplasmas in all the flocks tested. Mycoplasma (M.) cloacale was found in 6 flocks, M. anseris in 4 flocks, Mycoplasma species 1220 in 3 flocks and non-identifiable Mycoplasmas in 2 flocks. More than one Mycoplasma species was simultaneously isolated from 14 out of 37 geese.

Isolation of Mycoplasma anserisalpingitidis from swan goose (Anser cygnoides) in China

“…Sometimes airsacculitis and peritonitis are seen, even in young birds. General signs such as changes in thirst, decreased food consumption, body weight loss, weakness, nasal discharge, impaired breathing, conjunctivitis, diarrhoea and nervous signs were also described in the affected waterfowl flocks [1,11,12].…”

Complete Genome Sequences of Mycoplasma anatis, M. anseris, and M. cloacale Type Strains

“…All three of these Mycoplasma strains can be transmitted vertically ( 4 , 11 , 12 ). The coexistence of waterfowl-pathogenic mycoplasmas has been described ( 13 ).…”

Detection of Mycoplasma anatis, M. anseris, M. cloacale and Mycoplasma sp. 1220 in waterfowl using species-specific PCR assays

“…All these mycoplasmas could be a part of the normal microflora of geese and ducks, which do not demonstrate any clinical signs of mycoplasma infection (i.e., inapparent infections or carriers); however, these Mycoplasma species are also associated with some pathological conditions in waterfowl. Clinically manifested mycoplasmosis caused by these Mycoplasma species can occur in waterfowl during excessive stress, such as inadequate housing, crowding or extensive egg production [9–11], or due to inappropriate hygienic conditions and inadequate access of waterfowl to water. M .…”

“…sp. 1220 in geese has been frequently observed [7,9]. Co-infections of waterfowl with these mycoplasmas together with other bacterial or viral pathogens may lead to more severe disease manifestations and their consequence [22,23].…”

“…cloacale have undistinguishable biochemical properties (phosphatase-positive glucose-utilizers and phosphatase-negative arginine-hydrolysers, respectively) and all isolates/strains of these species have typical “fried-egg” colony morphology on solid media. Practically, these species could be identified using serological testing via growth inhibition test (GIT) and immunofluorescent antibody test (IFA); however, these tests are time-consuming, require pure culture of isolates and the qualified reference antisera, which are not available at regular veterinary laboratories in most countries either due to absence of national veterinary mycoplasma reference centres or due to a limited use of animals for production of antibody reagents [4,9,14]. Therefore, the characterisation of the phenotypic features of these mycoplasmas is not sufficient for their routine identification to the species level [4,8].…”