Studies on mycoplasma infection of laying geese

Abstract

SUMMARYInfertile eggs, dead embryos and tissues from laying geese (airsacs, peritoneum, oviduct, ovary, ova) were examined for presence of mycoplasmas. Forty-three of 110 eggs and the birds laying mycoplasmacontaining eggs proved to be positive for mycoplasmas. One of the strains was used for experimental infection of laying geese. A reduction in egg production, an increased number of infertile eggs, egg transmission of mycoplasmas and loss of body weight of hatched goslings, were observed due to the mycoplasma infection.

Salpingitis in geese associated withMycoplasmasp. strain 1220

“…Altogether 25% fewer eggs were produced over the laying season and there was a very high proportion (40%) of early embryo deaths. Embryo death was a typical feature of Mycoplasma infection in geese in our earlier studies (Stipkovits et al, 1984a). As a result of poor production during the first laying season, the flock was culled and replaced with new stock.…”

“…Mycoplasmas have been isolated from geese in association with various conditions such as airsacculitis and peritonitis (Stipkovits et al, 1975;Buntz et al, 1986;Gaillard-Perrin et al, 1983), salpingitis (Kosovac & Djurisic, 1970;Stipkovits et al, 1984a;Pfü tzner et al, 1988), embryo mortality (Benčina et al, 1988;Stipkovits et al, 1987), and phallus inflammation . Natural cases of salpingitis in chickens caused by Mycoplasma gallisepticum were reported in Japan (Nunoya et al, 1997).…”

“…Intratracheal infection of goslings or goose embryos with mycoplasma and acholeplasma strains resulted in airsacculitis (Kisary et al, 1976;Stipkovits et al, 1987), and challenge of laying geese with unidentified mycoplasma isolates (subsequently identified as Mycoplasma cloacale and Mycoplasma anseris; L Stipkovits, personal communication) induced a fall in egg production and increased embryo mortality (Stipkovits et al, 1984a). Flocks with inflammation of the cloaca and phallus were treated successfully with different antibiotics such as tylosin tartrate, lincomycin/spectinomycin and tiamulin hydrogen fumarate .…”

Trichodinosis associated with pathology of the reproductive tract in waterfowl

“…The Mycoplasma strains isolated in conjunction with lesions compatible with mycoplasmosis, namely lymphoid follicular hyperplasia, may have played a role in the development of phallic lesions in the gander. Mycoplasma isolates have been identified as putative agents of venereal diseases in geese and ducks (Stipkovits et al, 1984;Marius-Jestin et al, 1987;Behr et al, 1990;Stipkovits & Szathmary, 2012). Lesions suggestive of mycoplasmosis were not observed in the other two birds (case nos.…”

“…Copulation generally takes place in water in ducks and wild geese, but on land in domestic fowl (Lake, 1957;Hodges, 1974;Szép et al, 1974;Fujihara et al, 1976;King & McLelland, 1984;Marius-Jestin et al, 1987;Etches, 1996;Brennan et al, 2007, Brennan et al, 2010. In goose venereally-transmitted diseases, infection can involve the phallus, vagina, and cloaca leading to infertility and drop in egg production (Szép et al, 1974;Szép et al, 1979;King & McLelland, 1984;Stipkovits et al, 1984;Stipkovits & Szathmary, 2012).…”