Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection in the grey partridge Perdix perdix: outbreak description, histopathology, biochemistry and antioxidant parameters

Abstract

BackgroundThe grey partridge is an important game bird in Europe that has declined considerably over the last decades. The production and release of farm-bred birds can be threatened by infectious agents. The objective of this study was to describe the outbreak, pathology, and blood and tissue biochemical responses in a flock of grey partridges naturally infected with Mycoplasma gallisepticum.ResultsMorbidity and mortality rates were 100% and 60%, respectively. Necropsy revealed an accumulation of caseous exudate within the infraorbital sinuses, tracheitis, pneumonia and airsacculitis. There were significant increases in activities of lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase and amylase, and levels of total protein and glucose in Mycoplasma-infected birds when compared to control. Catalase showed significantly lower activity in the heart, lungs, liver and gonads of Mycoplasma-infected birds. Glutathione-S-transferase activity was elevated in the eye and the associated infraorbital sinus and kidneys, and decreased in the liver. Decreased levels of reduced glutathione were found in the heart, kidneys, liver and gonads. The activity of glutathione reductase was lower only in the lungs. Compared to healthy birds, mycoplasmosis in the grey partridge caused significant differences in the level of lipid peroxidation in lungs and plasma (p < 0.05), while the ferric reducing antioxidant power was lower in the heart and kidneys (p < 0.01). Significant correlations among responses of the antioxidant parameters were found namely in the heart, lungs, spleen, liver and plasma. There were also numerous significant inter-tissue correlations of all the studied antioxidant parameters.ConclusionsThe present study demonstrates the high susceptibility of grey partridges to natural infection by M. gallisepticum, the severity of the disease based on histopathology, and the modulation of blood chemical profiles and oxidative stress-associated parameters in the avian hosts, thus enhancing the understanding of the pathogenesis of mycoplasmosis in birds. Moreover, the reported reference values can be useful for the evaluation of the state of health in grey partridges.

Oxidative stress and liver damage in birds exposed to diclofenac and lead

“…The results of this study document the fact that the liver is a major detoxifying organ and the main source of ROS generation in birds (Paskova et al 2011;Vitula et al 2011). Therefore, it is the first organ to show damage.…”

“…Low doses of both toxicants and the short duration of sub-lethal exposure were probably within its detoxifying threshold. Differences in avian responses to toxic exposure may also be influenced by species-specific and tissuespecific susceptibility (Meteyer et al 2005;Hussain et al 2008;Vitula et al 2011). …”

Development of aMycoplasma gallisepticuminfection model in turkeys

“…Histopathology of the infraorbital sinuses in the infected turkeys was very similar to that observed in grey partridges exposed to M. gallisepticum (Vitula et al, 2011).…”

Occurrence and risk factors assessment associated with Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) infection in chickens in the semiarid region of Pernambuco, Brazil

“…The northeastern goldfinch (Carduelis yarrellii) is another fringillidae passerine that occurs naturally in this region. Vitula et al (2011) reported deaths provoked by respiratory problems caused by Mycoplasma gallisepticum in Perdix perdix, a bird from the same family as the domestic chicken and turkey. Poveda et al (1990) found Mycoplasma gallisepticum in samples of respiratory tract and tissues from quails (Coturnix coturnix) and peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus).…”