Species-Specific Polymerase Chain Reactions for the Detection of Mycoplasma buteonis, Mycoplasma flconis, Mycoplasma gypis, and Mycoplasma corogypsi in Captive Birds of Prey

Abstract

Mycoplasmas are pathogens of different avian species, but the role of Mycoplasma in raptors is not yet completely determined. As Mycoplasma isolation and identification present several difficulties, species-specific polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) for the detection of mycoplasmas found in birds of prey (Mycoplasma buteonis, Mycoplasma corogypsi, Mycoplasma falconis, and Mycoplasma gypis) were established. The specificity of the PCR methods were investigated using known avian Mycoplasma reference strains and isolates as well as related bacteria and was found to be specific. Amplificons obtained with these PCRs from field samples showed no false-positive results in restriction enzyme analysis and sequencing. The sensitivities of the different PCR assays varied between 50 fg and 1 pg DNA. Twenty-five tracheal swabs from healthy captive birds of prey were investigated by culture and immunobinding assay as comparison to the PCRs. Mycoplasmal DNA was detected in 88% of the samples, with negative results only from vultures. Mycoplasma falconis and M. buteonis were regularly found in falcons, and M. gypis was found in a common buzzard. Mycoplasma corogypsi was not demonstrated. Several isolates could not be differentiated using an immunobinding assay as well as the described PCR methods.

The Role of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor in the Function of Intestinal Barrier

“…This is corroborated with the results of the recent study showing that a 7-day neomycin application increases mRNA expression of ZO-1, claudin-3 and claudin-4 in the colon 30 . Although antibiotics provoked growth of pathogenic or opportunistic pathogenic bacteria in MIF-KO mice, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae 31 , Mycoplasma falconis 32 , Streptococcus oligofermentans 33 , Clostridium innocuum 34 , Klebsiella oxytoca 34 , the number of macrophages (Table 2 , Fig. 5f ) and lymphocytes (Table 2 , Fig.…”

Cell cycle regulated DNA methyltransferase: fluorescent tracking of a DNA strand-separation mechanism and identification of the responsible protein motif

“…The multiple sequence alignments using the 80 amino acid C-terminal segment of M.HinfI (Figure 7 ) reveals conservation among a variety of DNA methyltransferases in the N4/N6-methyltransferase family including the highlighted human pathogens Mycoplasma girerdii ( 31 ), Bartonella bacilliformis ( 32 ), Bartonella tamaie ( 33 ), Capnocytophaga canimorsus ( 34 ), Helicobacter pylori ( 35 ), Brucella abortus ( 36 ) and Haemophilus influenzae ( 37 ), animal pathogens Mycoplasma nasistruthionis ( 38 ), Ureaplasma diversum ( 39 ), Campylobacter sputorum biovar sputorum ( 40 ), Brachyspira catarrhinii ( 41 ), Mycoplasma californicum ( 42 ), Moraxella lincolnii ( 43 ), Mycoplasma falconis ( 44 ) and Moraxella macacae ( 45 ). These organisms highlight the widespread distribution of this protein segment, since it is present in three of the six classes in the Proteobacteria phylum, three other phyla (Spirochaetes, Bacteroidetes and Tenericutes) as well as an archaea.…”

Mycoplasma Corogypsi–Associated Polyarthritis and Tenosynovitis in Black Vultures (Coragyps atratus)

“…13,14,17 Such a high prevalence in apparently healthy birds suggests that the Mycoplasma spp detected are likely commensal organisms in the respiratory system of raptors. Consequently, detection of Mycoplasma spp in a respiratory lesion of a diseased raptor must be interpreted carefully.…”

“…M. corogypsi has not been identified in the respiratory tract in European raptor surveys using immunobinding and PCR assays but has been detected in asymptomatic falcons in the Middle East: 1 peregrine falcon ( Falco peregrinus ), 4 saker falcons, and 1 gyrfalcon x saker hybrid ( Falco rusticolus × cherrug ). 13,14,17 However, identification of M. corogypsi in these falcons relied only on an immunobinding assay, and therefore false-positive results cannot be excluded. The Mycoplasma spp amplicon in the trachea of vulture No.…”

“…11,14,16,18–20,22,23 Associations between respiratory signs or disease and Mycoplasma spp in raptors have been hypothesized in multiple reports. 2,9,11,18,20–23 However, most reports did not include a comprehensive clinical and pathological workup to support these assumptions.…”