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Avian Mycoplasma <strong>PCR</strong> 223<br />

15<br />

Multiplex <strong>PCR</strong> <strong>of</strong> Avian Pathogenic Mycoplasmas<br />

Mazhar I. Khan<br />

1. Introduction<br />

More than 20 mycoplasma species have been isolated and characterized<br />

from avian sources (1). Only four avian mycoplasmas species are known to<br />

cause economic losses in commercial poultry production. Mycoplasma<br />

gallisepticum (Mg) infection commonly causes chronic respiratory disease<br />

(CRD) in chickens and infectious sinusitis in turkeys (2), M. synoviae (Ms)<br />

infection most frequently occurs as a subclinical upper respiratory infection<br />

and synovitis in chickens and turkeys (3), M. iowae (Mi) causes decrease in<br />

hatchability and high embryo mortality in turkeys (4), and M. meleagridis<br />

(Mm) is the cause <strong>of</strong> an egg-transmitted disease <strong>of</strong> turkeys in which the primary<br />

lesion is an airsacculitis in the progeny, which leads to lower hatchability<br />

and skeletal abnormalities in young turkeys (5).<br />

Identification <strong>of</strong> any <strong>of</strong> these avian mycoplasma organisms is <strong>of</strong> great<br />

importance to the poultry industry, where prompt diagnosis is <strong>of</strong> paramount<br />

importance. Both serologic and isolation procedures have been used for diagnosis<br />

<strong>of</strong> avian mycoplasmas. However, interspecies cross-reactions and nonspecific<br />

reactions (6) <strong>of</strong>ten hamper serologic tests, while isolation <strong>of</strong><br />

mycoplasmas is difficult and time-consuming. Molecular methods, such as<br />

DNA probes (7–9) and polymerase chain reaction (<strong>PCR</strong>) (10–14), have been<br />

developed as alternatives to conventional serologic and culture methods to<br />

detect specific types <strong>of</strong> mycoplasmal microorganisms in clinical samples. On<br />

the other hand, multiple infections <strong>of</strong> avian pathogenic mycoplasmas are also<br />

not uncommon in chicken and turkey flocks. Especially commercial breeder<br />

chicken flocks infected with both Mg and Ms (15–17) need to be differentiated<br />

and diagnosed with culture and serology, as well as <strong>PCR</strong> amplification<br />

tests (6).<br />

From: Methods in Molecular Biology, vol. 216: <strong>PCR</strong> <strong>Detection</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Microbial</strong> <strong>Pathogens</strong>: Methods and Protocols<br />

Edited by: K. Sachse and J. Frey © Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ<br />

223

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