Surveillance of Mycoplasma spp. Among Cases of Viral Respiratory Affections in Broiler Chickens in Egypt
Surveillance of Mycoplasma spp. Among Cases of Viral Respiratory Affections in Broiler Chickens in Egypt
Abdelrahman A. Abdelrahman1, Salama A. S. Shany1, Kareem E. Hassan1, Mansy A. A. Dardeer2, Ali A.1*, Magdy F. El-Kady1*
ABSTRACT
In poultry, respiratory tract affections are caused by various pathogens, including bacterial and viral agents. In Egypt, the prevalences of avian influenza virus (AIV), infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), and Mycoplasma spp. are high. Thus, co-infection with one or both viruses and Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) or Mycoplasma synovaie (MS) is thought to play an important role in the clinical severity of respiratory infections. In this study, we conducted a passive surveillance study for MG and MS among cases of viral respiratory affections in broilers. Samples were collected from 68 broiler chicken flocks with variable mortality rates in four Egyptian governorates (Fayoum, Beni-Suef, Giza, Minia). All samples were cultivated on PPLO media and detected under stereo-microscope for fried egg colonies. Forty-three samples were detected as Mycoplasma spp., using PCR for species identification, MG, MS, and Untyped strains, with a high prevalence of MG (27.9%) and lowest for MS (8.8%). An rRT-PCR used for detection of AIV-H9N2 and IBV showed high prevalence for IBV (88.2%) and AIV-H9N2 (52.9%), the highest rates of co-infection were MG-H9N2-IBV, Mycoplasma other than MG/MS, and H9-IBV with rates of (17.6%), (14.7%), and (13.2%) respectively, While for single infection were IBV (14.7%) and H9N2 (7.4%). The highest mortality rate was (30%) of co-infection with MG, IBV, and H9N2. The current study highlights the role of co-infection between the Mycoplasma spp. and other respiratory viruses, especially LPAIV (H9N2 subtype) and IBV, in exaggerating the clinical outcome after natural infection in broiler chickens. More field and experimental investigations are crucial to highlight the pathogenesis and the interaction between different respiratory pathogens in chickens.
Keywords | Avian influenza, Broiler chickens, Co-infection, H9N2, Infectious bronchitis Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Mycoplasma synovaie.
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