Molecular identification of Mycoplasma synoviae from breeder chicken flock showing arthritis in Egypt

Abstract

Aim: Arthritis is one of the most economic problems facing poultry industry worldwide. The study was done to detect possible causes of arthritis in breeder chicken flock with emphasis on molecular identification of Mycoplasma synoviae (MS). Materials and Methods: This study was carried on chicken from broiler breeder flock of 57 weeks' age in Dakahlia, Egypt, suffered from arthritis with frequently 5-7% decrease in egg production, reduced fertility, and hatchability. Forty blood samples were randomly collected from individual birds in sterile tubes and used for serum separation. Serum samples were tested using serum plate agglutination (SPA) test against colored antigens for Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG), MS, and Salmonella gallinarum-pullorum (SGP). On the other hand, 24 joint samples were collected. Of those 24 samples, 12 joint samples were subjected to bacteriological examination, while the other 12 were utilized for molecular diagnosis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for MS and avian reovirus (ARV). Results: SPA test results revealed the presence of antibodies against MG, MS, and SGP in tested sera in rates of 14/40 (35%), 35/40 (87.5%), and 9/40 (22.5%), respectively. Furthermore, 19 bacterial isolates were recognized from joint samples and identified as five Staphylococcus spp., nine Escherichia coli, three SGP, one Citrobacter, and one Proteus. The identified Staphylococcal isolates were three coagulase-positive staphylococci (two Staphylococcus aureus and one Staphylococcus hyicus) and two coagulase-negative staphylococci (one Staphylococcus epidermidis and one Staphylococcus lentus), while E. coli isolate serotypes were 1 O11, 2 O55, 3 O78, 1 O124, 1 O125, and 1 untyped. PCR proved that 12/12 (100%) samples were positive for MS variable lipoprotein hemagglutinin A (vlhA) gene, while ARV was not diagnosed in any of the examined samples. Four amplified vlhA gene of MS isolates (named MS-2018D1, MS-2018D2, MS-2018D3, and MS-2018D4) was successfully sequenced. Analysis of phylogenetic tree revealed the presence of 100% identity between each two sequenced isolates (isolates MS-2018D1 and MS-2018D4 and also isolates 2018D2 and MS-2018D3). However, the nucleotide similarity between four isolates was 88.6%. On the other hand, our field isolates MS-2018D1, MS-2018D4, MS-2018D2, and MS-2018D3 showed nucleotide identity with vaccine strain MS-H 98.4%, 98.4%, 88.1%, and 88.1%, respectively. Furthermore, the nucleotide similarities with field strains from Argentina ranged between 87.8% and 98.6%. Conclusion: Four field isolates of MS were identified in examined broiler breeder flock. A phylogenetic study of these isolates revealed the variation between isolated MS strains and vaccine strain. Therefore, further studies are required for evaluating the vaccine efficacy against the present field isolates of MS. In addition, application of MS immunization of breeder flocks is necessary for proper control of the disease.

Histopathological lesion of Arthritis in Mycoplasma synoviae naturally infected breeder chicken in Egypt

“…The lesions and microscopic alteration obtained in our study could be utilized only as a proposal factor of possible MS infection. These results were confirmed with isolation and PCR results which discovered and identified the causative organism (Amer et al 2019).…”

“…Birds showing arthritis, depression, lameness and loss of weight with frequently 5-7% decrease in egg production and decrease in fertility and hatchability. MS were molecularly detected as cause of this condition (Amer et al 2019). Joints were subjected to histological examination.…”

Incidence of Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae in broiler flocks at the Federal District of Brazil and its surrounding areas

“…An Egyptian study on broiler flocks aged 57 weeks that showed signs of arthritis detected the presence of MS in 87.5% of joint samples using PCR (Amer, Mekky, & Fedawyh, 2019). In the present study, MS was detected in broilers (35.09%); however, there were no signs of arthritis.…”

Management of intertarsal septic arthritis in an ostrich (Struthio camelus)

“…Septic arthritis is not an uncommon diagnosis in both exotic and domestic animals presenting with lameness (Amer et al., 2019 ; Baron et al., 2019 ; Harcourt‐Brown, 2002 ; Innes, 2016 ; Marcon et al., 2019 ; Mulon et al., 2016 ; Nairn, 1973 ). In birds, most diagnoses of this ailment are related to the extension of pododermatitis, traumatic events occurring near a joint or hematogenous spread of bacteria (Amer et al., 2019 ; Baron et al., 2019 ; Harcourt‐Brown, 2002 ; Knafo et al., 2019 ; Marcon et al., 2019 ; Nairn, 1973 ; Ratliff & Zaffarano, 2016 ; Youssef et al., 2019 ). There are few publications about the diagnosis and management of intertarsal septic arthritis in avian species, and none have been reported in an ostrich (Amer et al., 2019 ; Marcon et al., 2019 ; Nairn, 1973 ).…”