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Catania S, Bottinelli M, Fincato A, Tondo A, Matucci A, Nai G, Righetti V, Abbate F, Ramírez AS, Gobbo F, Merenda M. Pathogenic avian mycoplasmas show phenotypic differences in their biofilm forming ability compared to non-pathogenic species in vitro. Biofilm 2024; 7:100190. [PMID: 38515541 PMCID: PMC10955283 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2024.100190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Mycoplasmas are known as the minimalist microorganisms in the microbes' world. Their minimalist nature makes them highly sensitive to the environmental conditions and limits their ability to survive for extended periods outside their animal host. Nevertheless, there are documented instances of mycoplasma transmission over significant distances and this phenomenon may be linked to relatively unexplored abilities of mycoplasmas, such as their capacity to synthesize biofilm-the predominant mode of bacterial growth in nature. The authors decided to establish a method aimed at inducing the clustering of mycoplasma planktonic cells within a biofilm in vitro and subsequently assess the capacity of certain avian mycoplasmas to synthesize a biofilm. A total of 299 avian mycoplasma isolates were included in the study, encompassing both pathogenic (Mycoplasma gallisepticum, M. synoviae, M. meleagridis, M. iowae) and non-pathogenic species (M. gallinaceum, M. gallinarum, M. iners and M. pullorum). The authors successfully demonstrated the feasibility of inducing avian mycoplasmas to synthetize in vitro a biofilm, which can be visually quantified. The only species that did not produce any biofilm was M. iowae. In general, the pathogenic mycoplasmas produced greater quantities of biofilm compared to the non-pathogenic ones. Furthermore, it was observed that the ability to produce biofilm appeared to vary, both qualitatively and quantitatively, not only among different species but also among isolates of a single species. Future studies will be necessary to determine whether biofilm production plays a pivotal epidemiological role for the pathogenic avian mycoplasmas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Catania
- Unità Micoplasmi, WOAH Reference Laboratory for Avian Mycoplasmosis (M. Gallisepticum, M. Synoviae), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 37060, Buttapietra, (VR), Italy
| | - Marco Bottinelli
- Unità Micoplasmi, WOAH Reference Laboratory for Avian Mycoplasmosis (M. Gallisepticum, M. Synoviae), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 37060, Buttapietra, (VR), Italy
| | - Alice Fincato
- Unità Micoplasmi, WOAH Reference Laboratory for Avian Mycoplasmosis (M. Gallisepticum, M. Synoviae), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 37060, Buttapietra, (VR), Italy
| | - Annalucia Tondo
- Unità Micoplasmi, WOAH Reference Laboratory for Avian Mycoplasmosis (M. Gallisepticum, M. Synoviae), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 37060, Buttapietra, (VR), Italy
| | - Andrea Matucci
- Unità Micoplasmi, WOAH Reference Laboratory for Avian Mycoplasmosis (M. Gallisepticum, M. Synoviae), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 37060, Buttapietra, (VR), Italy
| | - Giorgia Nai
- Unità Micoplasmi, WOAH Reference Laboratory for Avian Mycoplasmosis (M. Gallisepticum, M. Synoviae), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 37060, Buttapietra, (VR), Italy
| | - Verdiana Righetti
- Unità Micoplasmi, WOAH Reference Laboratory for Avian Mycoplasmosis (M. Gallisepticum, M. Synoviae), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 37060, Buttapietra, (VR), Italy
| | - Francesco Abbate
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Messina, 98168, Messina, ME, Italy
| | - Ana S. Ramírez
- Unidad de Epidemiología y Medicina Preventiva, Instituto Universitario de Sanidad Animal y Seguridad Alimentaria (IUSA), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413, Arucas, Spain
| | - Federica Gobbo
- Unità Micoplasmi, WOAH Reference Laboratory for Avian Mycoplasmosis (M. Gallisepticum, M. Synoviae), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 37060, Buttapietra, (VR), Italy
| | - Marianna Merenda
- Unità Micoplasmi, WOAH Reference Laboratory for Avian Mycoplasmosis (M. Gallisepticum, M. Synoviae), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 37060, Buttapietra, (VR), Italy
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CHANGES IN TISSUE TROPISM OF MYCOPLASMA GALLISEPTICUM FOLLOWING HOST JUMP. J Wildl Dis 2022; 58:716-724. [PMID: 36302353 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-21-00187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Mycoplasma gallisepticum, a pathogen of worldwide economic importance in poultry, is recovered in chickens, especially from the respiratory tract. Some strains, however, are specialized to other tissues and because it jumps from poultry to wild birds, the new strains also cause severe conjunctivitis in new hosts. Nevertheless, most studies of M. gallisepticum in wild birds use choanal swabs or combine choanal and conjunctival swabs to quantify bacterial load. Because the clinical signs associated with M. gallisepticum infection differ markedly between poultry and House Finches (Haemorhous mexicanus), we compared the bacterial load in choanal and conjunctival samples following experimental inoculation of House Finches with M. gallisepticum isolates originating from poultry or from House Finches. This allowed us to test two hypotheses: M. gallisepticum changed tissue tropism, or M. gallisepticum simply expanded its within-host niche. By comparing bacterial loads from choanal and conjunctival swabs in birds inoculated with one of a suite of M. gallisepticum isolates, we found support for hypothesis 2. The choanal loads in House Finches did not differ between isolates, while the conjunctival loads of birds inoculated with poultry isolates were lower than in birds inoculated with House Finch isolates. When measuring the bacterial load of M. gallisepticum in birds, it is important to sample and analyze separately choanal and conjunctival swabs, as quantifying bacterial loads in pooled samples may not provide reliable information on differences in virulence.
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Le Gall-Ladevèze C, Nouvel LX, Souvestre M, Croville G, Hygonenq MC, Guérin JL, Le Loc'h G. Detection of a novel enterotropic Mycoplasma gallisepticum-like in European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) around poultry farms in France. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 69:e883-e894. [PMID: 34738732 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in southwest France have raised questions regarding the role of commensal wild birds in the introduction and dissemination of pathogens between poultry farms. To assess possible infectious contacts at the wild-domestic bird interface, the presence of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) was studied in the two sympatric compartments in southwest France. Among various peridomestic wild birds (n = 385), standard PCR primers targeting the 16S rRNA of MG showed a high apparent prevalence (up to 45%) in cloacal swabs of European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris, n = 108), while the MG-specific mgc2 gene was not detected. No tracheal swab of these birds tested positive, and no clinical sign was observed in positive birds, suggesting commensalism in the digestive tract of starlings. A mycoplasma strain was then isolated from a starling swab and its whole genome was sequenced using both Illumina and Nanopore technologies. Phylogenetic analysis showed that it was closely related to MG and M. tullyi, although it was a distinct species. A pair of specific PCR primers targeting the mgc2-like gene of this MG-like strain was designed and used to screen again the same avian populations and a wintering urban population of starlings (n = 50). Previous PCR results obtained in starlings were confirmed to be mostly due to this strain (20/22 positive pools). In contrast, the strain was not detected in fresh faeces of urban starlings. Furthermore, it was detected in one cloacal pool of white wagtails, suggesting infectious transmissions between synanthropic birds with similar feeding behaviour. As the new Starling mycoplasma was not detected in free-range ducks (n = 80) in close contact with positive starlings, nor in backyard (n = 320) and free-range commercial (n = 720) chickens of the area, it might not infect poultry. However, it could be involved in mycoplasma gene transfer in such multi-species contexts.
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Huang A, Wang S, Guo J, Gu Y, Li J, Huang L, Wang X, Tao Y, Liu Z, Yuan Z, Hao H. Prudent Use of Tylosin for Treatment of Mycoplasma gallisepticum Based on Its Clinical Breakpoint and Lung Microbiota Shift. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:712473. [PMID: 34566919 PMCID: PMC8458857 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.712473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to explore the prudent use of tylosin for the treatment of chronic respiratory infectious diseases in chickens caused by Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) based on its clinical breakpoint (CBP) and its effect on lung microbiota. The CBP was established based on the wild-type/epidemiological cutoff value (COWT/ECV), pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamics (PK-PD) cutoff value (COPD), and clinical cutoff value (COCL) of tylosin against MG. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of tylosin against 111 MG isolates was analyzed and the COWT was 2 μg/ml. M17 with MIC of 2 μg/ml was selected as a representative strain for the PK-PD study. The COPD of tylosin against MG was 1 μg/ml. The dosage regimen formulated by the PK-PD study was 3 days administration of tylosin at a dose of 45.88 mg/kg b.w. with a 24-h interval. Five different MIC MGs were selected for clinical trial, and the COCL of tylosin against MG was 0.5 μg/ml. According to the CLSI decision tree, the CBP of tylosin against MG was set up as 2 μg/ml. The effect of tylosin on lung microbiota of MG-infected chickens was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Significant change of the lung microbiota was observed in the infection group and treatment group based on the principal coordinate analysis and the Venn diagrams of the core and unique OTU. The phyla Firmicutes and Proteobacteria showed difference after MG infection and treatment. This study established the CBP of tylosin against MG. It also provided scientific data for the prudent use of tylosin based on the evaluation of MG infection and tylosin treatment on the lung microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anxiong Huang
- National Reference Laboratory of Veterinary Drug Residues (HZAU) and MAO Key Laboratory for Detection of Veterinary Drug Residues, Wuhan, China.,MOA Laboratory for Risk Assessment of Quality and Safety of Livestock and Poultry Products, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shuge Wang
- National Center for Veterinary Drug Safety Evaluation, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jinli Guo
- National Reference Laboratory of Veterinary Drug Residues (HZAU) and MAO Key Laboratory for Detection of Veterinary Drug Residues, Wuhan, China.,MOA Laboratory for Risk Assessment of Quality and Safety of Livestock and Poultry Products, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yufeng Gu
- National Reference Laboratory of Veterinary Drug Residues (HZAU) and MAO Key Laboratory for Detection of Veterinary Drug Residues, Wuhan, China.,MOA Laboratory for Risk Assessment of Quality and Safety of Livestock and Poultry Products, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jun Li
- Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Lingli Huang
- National Reference Laboratory of Veterinary Drug Residues (HZAU) and MAO Key Laboratory for Detection of Veterinary Drug Residues, Wuhan, China.,MOA Laboratory for Risk Assessment of Quality and Safety of Livestock and Poultry Products, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xu Wang
- National Reference Laboratory of Veterinary Drug Residues (HZAU) and MAO Key Laboratory for Detection of Veterinary Drug Residues, Wuhan, China.,MOA Laboratory for Risk Assessment of Quality and Safety of Livestock and Poultry Products, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanfei Tao
- National Reference Laboratory of Veterinary Drug Residues (HZAU) and MAO Key Laboratory for Detection of Veterinary Drug Residues, Wuhan, China.,MOA Laboratory for Risk Assessment of Quality and Safety of Livestock and Poultry Products, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhenli Liu
- National Reference Laboratory of Veterinary Drug Residues (HZAU) and MAO Key Laboratory for Detection of Veterinary Drug Residues, Wuhan, China.,MOA Laboratory for Risk Assessment of Quality and Safety of Livestock and Poultry Products, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zonghui Yuan
- National Reference Laboratory of Veterinary Drug Residues (HZAU) and MAO Key Laboratory for Detection of Veterinary Drug Residues, Wuhan, China.,MOA Laboratory for Risk Assessment of Quality and Safety of Livestock and Poultry Products, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Haihong Hao
- National Reference Laboratory of Veterinary Drug Residues (HZAU) and MAO Key Laboratory for Detection of Veterinary Drug Residues, Wuhan, China.,MOA Laboratory for Risk Assessment of Quality and Safety of Livestock and Poultry Products, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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Current status of vaccine research, development, and challenges of vaccines for Mycoplasma gallisepticum. Poult Sci 2020; 99:4195-4202. [PMID: 32867963 PMCID: PMC7598112 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2020.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 06/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) is an important avian pathogen that causes significant economic losses in the poultry industry. Surprisingly, the limited protection and adverse reactions caused by the vaccines, including live vaccines, bacterin-based (killed) vaccines, and recombinant viral vaccines is still a major concern. Mycoplasma gallisepticum strains vary in infectivity and virulence and infection may sometimes unapparent and goes undetected. Although extensive research has been carried out on the biology of this pathogen, information is lacking about the type of immune response that confers protection and selection of appropriate protective antigens and adjuvants. Regardless of numerous efforts focused on the development of safe and effective vaccine for the control of MG, the use of modern DNA vaccine technology selected in silico approaches for the use of conserved recombinant proteins may be a better choice for the preparation of novel effective vaccines. More research is needed to characterize and elucidate MG products modulating MG-host interactions. These products could be used as a reference for the preparation and development of vaccines to control MG infections in poultry flocks.
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Relationship between danofloxacin PK/PD parameters and emergence and mechanism of resistance of Mycoplasma gallisepticum in In Vitro model. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0202070. [PMID: 30157201 PMCID: PMC6114503 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2017] [Accepted: 07/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycoplasma gallisepticum is a serious pathogen for poultry that causes chronic respiratory disease in chickens. Increased embryonic mortality, as well as reduced weight gain and egg production have been found in infected chickens, which can lead to considerable economic losses in poultry production. Increased antibiotic resistance compromises the use of tetracyclines, macrolides and quinolones in the farm environment. In the present study, danofloxacin concentrations were simulated below the MIC99, between the MIC99 and MPC (the mutant prevention concentration), and above the MPC in an in vitro dynamic model against M. gallisepticum. The relationship between the simulated danofloxacin pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) parameters and development of resistance for M. gallisepticum was explored based on the available data obtained from various dosing regimens in the in vitro model. Danofloxacin concentration, counts of viable cell and susceptibility were determined during the experiment. The mutations in gyrA, gyrB, parC and parE as well as efflux pumps were examined. The MIC of danofloxacin against M. gallisepticum was increased when drug concentrations were between the lower and upper boundaries of the mutant selection window. The upper boundary of the selection window in vitro was estimated as a Cmax/MPC value of 1. The lower boundary was estimated as Cmax/MPC value of 0.05. Both in terms of the MIC and resistance frequency, M. gallisepticum resistance was developed when danofloxacin concentrations fell inside the mutant selection window (ratios of Cmax to MPC between 0.05 and 1). The single mutation in gyrA (Ser-83→Arg) was found in all mutants, while double mutations in gyrA and parC (Ala-64→Ser) were observed only in the mutant with the highest MIC. In addition, no change of susceptibility in the mutants was observed in the presence of reserpine and carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP). This suggested that ATP-binding cassette superfamily (ABC transporter) and major facilitator superfamily (MFS transporter) did not play a role in danofloxacin efflux.
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More S, Bøtner A, Butterworth A, Calistri P, Depner K, Edwards S, Garin-Bastuji B, Good M, Gortázar Schmidt C, Michel V, Miranda MA, Nielsen SS, Raj M, Sihvonen L, Spoolder H, Stegeman JA, Thulke HH, Velarde A, Willeberg P, Winckler C, Baldinelli F, Broglia A, Dhollander S, Beltrán-Beck B, Kohnle L, Bicout D. Assessment of listing and categorisation of animal diseases within the framework of the Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) No 2016/429): avian mycoplasmosis ( Mycoplasma gallisepticum, M. meleagridis). EFSA J 2017; 15:e04953. [PMID: 32625619 PMCID: PMC7010150 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2017.4953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Avian mycoplasmosis (Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Mycoplasma meleagridis) has been assessed according to the criteria of the Animal Health Law (AHL), in particular criteria of Article 7 on disease profile and impacts, Article 5 on the eligibility of avian mycoplasmosis to be listed, Article 9 for the categorisation of avian mycoplasmosis according to disease prevention and control rules as in Annex IV and Article 8 on the list of animal species related to avian mycoplasmosis. The assessment has been performed following a methodology composed of information collection and compilation, expert judgement on each criterion at individual and, if no consensus was reached before, also at collective level. The output is composed of the categorical answer, and for the questions where no consensus was reached, the different supporting views are reported. Details on the methodology used for this assessment are explained in a separate opinion. According to the assessment performed, avian mycoplasmosis can be considered eligible to be listed for Union intervention as laid down in Article 5(3) of the AHL. The disease would comply with the criteria as in Sections 4 and 5 of Annex IV of the AHL, for the application of the disease prevention and control rules referred to in points (d) and (e) of Article 9(1). The assessment here performed on compliance with the criteria as in Section 3 of Annex IV referred to in point (c) of Article 9(1) is inconclusive. The animal species to be listed for avian mycoplasmosis according to Article 8(3) criteria are mainly domestic and wild birds of the order Galliformes, and also Passeriformes for M. gallisepticum.
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Evaluation of the Capacity of PCR and High-Resolution Melt Curve Analysis for Identification of Mixed Infection with Mycoplasma gallisepticum Strains. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0126824. [PMID: 25970590 PMCID: PMC4430288 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2014] [Accepted: 04/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogenicity and presentation of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) infection may differ from one strain to another and this may have implications on control measures. Infection of individual birds with more than one MG strain has been reported. A PCR followed by high resolution melt (HRM) curve analysis has been developed in our laboratory and routinely used for detection and differentiation of MG strains. However the potential of this test for identification of MG strains in a mixed specimen has not been evaluated. In the present study, the capability of PCR-HRM curve analysis technique, targeting vlhA and pvpA genes was assessed for identification of individual MG strains in a mixed population. Different DNA ratios of two MG strains from 1 to 10-4 ng were tested with some generated conventional and normalized curves distinct from those of individual strains alone. Using genotype confidence percentages (GCP) generated from HRM curve analysis, it was found that vlhA PCR-HRM was more consistent than pvpA PCR-HRM for the detection of MG ts-11 vaccine strain mixed with any of the MG strains 6/85, F, S6 or a field isolate. The potential of vlhA PCR-HRM to detect mixed MG strains in a specimen was found to be primarily dependent on quantity and proportion of the target DNAs in the mixture. This is the first study examining the capacity of PCR-HRM technique for identification of individual MG strains in a mixed strain population.
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Hochachka WM, Dhondt AA, Dobson A, Hawley DM, Ley DH, Lovette IJ. Multiple host transfers, but only one successful lineage in a continent-spanning emergent pathogen. Proc Biol Sci 2013; 280:20131068. [PMID: 23843387 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2013.1068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Emergence of a new disease in a novel host is thought to be a rare outcome following frequent pathogen transfers between host species. However, few opportunities exist to examine whether disease emergence stems from a single successful pathogen transfer, and whether this successful lineage represents only one of several pathogen transfers between hosts. We examined the successful host transfer and subsequent evolution of the bacterial pathogen Mycoplasma gallisepticum, an emergent pathogen of house finches (Haemorhous (formerly Carpodacus) mexicanus). Our principal goals were to assess whether host transfer has been a repeated event between the original poultry hosts and house finches, whether only a single host transfer was ultimately responsible for the emergence of M. gallisepticum in these finches, and whether the spread of the pathogen from east to west across North America has resulted in spatial structuring in the pathogen. Using a phylogeny of M. gallisepticum based on 107 isolates from domestic poultry, house finches and other songbirds, we infer that the bacterium has repeatedly jumped between these two groups of hosts but with only a single lineage of M. gallisepticum persisting and evolving in house finches; bacterial evolution has produced monophyletic eastern and western North American subclades.
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Ferguson-Noel NM, Laibinis VA, Kleven SH. Evaluation of Mycoplasma gallisepticum K-Strain as a Live Vaccine in Chickens. Avian Dis 2012; 56:44-50. [DOI: 10.1637/9833-061411-reg.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Béjaoui Khiari A, Landoulsi A, Aissa H, Mlik B, Amouna F, Ejlassi A, Ben Abdelmoumen Mardassi B. Isolation of Mycoplasma meleagridis from chickens. Avian Dis 2011; 55:8-12. [PMID: 21500629 DOI: 10.1637/9365-041310-reg.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Mycoplasma meleagridis (MM) is a major cause of disease and economic loss in turkeys. Formerly it was thought that this species was very host specific and only restricted to turkey. In this study, we report on the recovery of MM from breeding flocks of chickens located near a turkey breeding unit. Ten MM field strains were isolated (by culture on Frey broth medium) from tracheal swabs of chickens displaying clinical signs of mycoplasmosis-essentially respiratory symptoms and poor performance. Assignment of the isolated field strains to MM was confirmed by a growth inhibition assay using MM-specific polyclonal antiserum and by PCR amplification targeting the 16S rRNA sequence as well as the Mm14 sequence, a MM-species-specific DNA fragment previously identified and characterized in our laboratory. The nucleotide sequence of Mm14 proved to be highly conserved among the 10 MM field strains, indicating a common source of infection. However, on the basis of slight differences in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis whole-cell proteins and western blot profiles, two groups of the isolated MM field strains could be distinguished. Evidence of MM infection of chickens was further provided by serology, since 13.77% (35/254) of sera proved positive to MM by either rapid serum agglutination or recombinant antigen-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, sera of all chickens from which MM was isolated were positive for antibodies to MM. Collectively, the data unambiguously show that MM could infect chickens; thus, MM warrants further exploration to determine its pathogenicity in this unusual host.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Béjaoui Khiari
- Laboratoire des Mycoplasmes, Institut Pasteur de Tunis. 13, Place Pasteur B.P. 74, 1002 Tunis-Belvédère, Tunis, Tunisia
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Raviv Z, Callison SA, Ferguson-Noel N, Kleven SH. Strain differentiating real-time PCR for Mycoplasma gallisepticum live vaccine evaluation studies. Vet Microbiol 2008; 129:179-87. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2007.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2007] [Revised: 11/14/2007] [Accepted: 11/16/2007] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Sydenstricker KV, Dhondt AA, Hawley DM, Jennelle CS, Kollias HW, Kollias GV. Characterization of Experimental Mycoplasma gallisepticum Infection in Captive House Finch Flocks. Avian Dis 2006; 50:39-44. [PMID: 16617979 DOI: 10.1637/7403-062805r.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The use of controlled, horizontal-transmission experiments provides detailed information on the spread of disease within fixed social groups, which informs our understanding of disease dynamics both in an empirical and theoretical context. For that reason, we characterized in 2002, horizontal transmission of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) in two flocks of 11 wild-caught house finches housed in outdoor aviaries over a 6-mo period. All birds were initially free of MG by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based test, rapid plate agglutination (RPA), and the scoring of physical signs. We inoculated one flock member bilaterally in the palpebral conjunctiva and reintroduced it into its cage. Index birds developed conjunctivitis within 3 to 5 days but died 13 and 20 days postinfection (PI) possibly because of very severe weather. The proportion of birds with physical signs increased gradually, reached 40% at 6 wk PI, and fluctuated around 40% until 21 wk PI. By the time our experiment ended at 24.5 wk PI, 28% of the birds still exhibited physical signs. Across both flocks, 80% of the birds developed unilateral or bilateral conjunctivitis, and several birds relapsed. The appearance of physical signs in new individuals occurred between 10 and 144 days PI (median 41 days PI). Physical signs lasted 1-172 days (median 42 days). Birds that became infected earlier during the experiment developed more severe conjunctivitis, and there was a tendency for birds that developed bilateral conjunctivitis to develop physical signs earlier. Most birds that developed physical signs of MG were also PCR- and RPA-positive, although we detected a single asymptomatic carrier and a single symptomatic false negative. No birds died as a result of secondary MG infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keila V Sydenstricker
- Wildlife Health Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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Evans J, Leigh S, Branton S, Collier S, Pharr G, Bearson S. Mycoplasma gallisepticum: Current and Developing Means to Control the Avian Pathogen. J APPL POULTRY RES 2005. [DOI: 10.1093/japr/14.4.757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Lysnyansky I, Garcia M, Levisohn S. Use of mgc2-polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism for rapid differentiation between field isolates and vaccine strains of Mycoplasma gallisepticum in Israel. Avian Dis 2005; 49:238-45. [PMID: 16094829 DOI: 10.1637/7285-10020r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Increasing use of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) live vaccines has led to a need for a rapid test for differentiation of MG field strains from the live vaccine strains ts-11 and 6/85. We examined the differentiating potential of diagnostic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers targeted to the gene mgc2, encoding a cytadherence-related surface protein uniquely present in MG. The mgc2-PCR diagnostic primers are specific for MG in tests of all avian mycoplasmas or bacteria present in the chicken trachea and are sensitive enough to readily detect MG in tracheal swabs from field outbreaks. Differentiation of vaccine strain ts-11 was based on identification of restriction enzyme sites in the 300-base-pair (bp) mgc2-PCR amplicon present in ts-11 and missing in MG isolates from field outbreaks in Israel. Restriction sites for the enzymes HaeII and SfaN1 were identified in the amplified region in strain ts-11 and were not found in 28 field isolates of MG, comprising a representative cross section of all the MG isolates from the period 1997-2003. In practice, differential diagnosis of MG is achieved within 1 day of submission of tracheal swab samples by mgc2-PCR amplification and restriction of the amplicon with HaeII, giving a 270-bp fragment for ts-11 or no restriction for other MG strains tested. Application of the mgc2-PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (mgc2-PCR-RFLP) assay enabled differential diagnosis of both components of a mixture of ts-11 and non-ts-11 DNA, detecting the field strain in the presence of a large excess of ts-11. The test was successfully applied in vivo for monitoring vaccinates in a ts-11 vaccine trial. In principle, the test may also be used to identify the 6/85 vaccine strain, which yields a 237-bp product, readily differentiated from the approximately 300-bp PCR product of all other strains tested. Further testing of field isolates will be necessary to determine the applicability of this test in the United States and other countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inna Lysnyansky
- Division of Avian and Fish Diseases, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
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Ferguson NM, Hepp D, Sun S, Ikuta N, Levisohn S, Kleven SH, García M. Use of molecular diversity of Mycoplasma gallisepticum by gene-targeted sequencing (GTS) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis for epidemiological studies. Microbiology (Reading) 2005; 151:1883-1893. [PMID: 15941996 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.27642-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A total of 67 Mycoplasma gallisepticum field isolates from the USA, Israel and Australia, and 10 reference strains, were characterized by gene-targeted sequencing (GTS) analysis of portions of the putative cytadhesin pvpA gene, the cytadhesin gapA gene, the cytadhesin mgc2 gene, and an uncharacterized hypothetical surface lipoprotein-encoding gene designated genome coding DNA sequence (CDS) MGA_0319. The regions of the surface-protein-encoding genes targeted in this analysis were found to be stable within a strain, after sequencing different in vitro passages of M. gallisepticum reference strains. Gene sequences were first analysed on the basis of gene size polymorphism. The pvpA and mgc2 genes are characterized by the presence of different nucleotide insertions/deletions. However, differentiation of isolates based solely on pvpA/mgc2 PCR size polymorphism was not found to be a reliable method to differentiate among M. gallisepticum isolates. On the other hand, GTS analysis based on the nucleotide sequence identities of individual and multiple genes correlated with epidemiologically linked isolates and with random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. GTS analysis of individual genes, gapA, MGA_0319, mgc2 and pvpA, identified 17, 16, 20 and 22 sequence types, respectively. GTS analysis using multiple gene sequences mgc2/pvpa and gapA/MGA_0319/mgc2/pvpA identified 38 and 40 sequence types, respectively. GTS of multiple surface-protein-encoding genes showed better discriminatory power than RAPD analysis, which identified 36 pattern types from the same panel of M. gallisepticum strains. These results are believed to provide the first evidence that typing of M. gallisepticum isolates by GTS analysis of surface-protein genes is a sensitive and reproducible typing method and will allow rapid global comparisons between laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naola M Ferguson
- Department of Avian Medicine, Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-4875, USA
| | - Diego Hepp
- Simbios Biotecnologia, Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Universidade Luterana do Brasil, Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Shulei Sun
- Department of Avian Medicine, Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-4875, USA
| | - Nilo Ikuta
- Simbios Biotecnologia, Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Universidade Luterana do Brasil, Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Sharon Levisohn
- Division of Avian and Aquatic Diseases, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Beit Dagan 50250, Israel
| | - Stanley H Kleven
- Department of Avian Medicine, Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-4875, USA
| | - Maricarmen García
- Department of Avian Medicine, Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-4875, USA
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Hong Y, García M, Levisohn S, Savelkoul P, Leiting V, Lysnyansky I, Ley DH, Kleven SH. Differentiation of Mycoplasma gallisepticum strains using amplified fragment length polymorphism and other DNA-based typing methods. Avian Dis 2005; 49:43-9. [PMID: 15839411 DOI: 10.1637/7254-080504r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) was used to type 34 strains of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) including vaccine strains ts-11, 6/85, and F. Using AFLP, a total of 10 groups, with 30 distinguishable AFLP typing profiles, were generated in the analysis. The AFLP method was able to identify and differentiate both MG field strains from recent outbreaks and those that were epidemiologically related. The AFLP procedure will provide assistance in identifying the sources of mycoplasma infections. Vaccine strains were also differentiated from other field strains, which will be useful in the evaluation of vaccination programs. The AFLP discrimination potential was compared to other molecular typing techniques such as gene-targeted typing by DNA sequence analysis of the MG cytadhesin-like protein encoding gene, mgc2, and random amplified polymorphic DNA assay on the same MG isolates. The three assays correlated well with one another, with AFLP analysis having a much higher discriminatory power and reproducibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Hong
- Department of Avian Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-4875, USA
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Ferguson NM, Leiting VA, Klevena SH. Safety and Efficacy of the Avirulent Mycoplasma gallisepticum Strain K5054 as a Live Vaccine in Poultry. Avian Dis 2004; 48:91-9. [PMID: 15077802 DOI: 10.1637/7069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
A Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) isolate from an atypically mild outbreak in turkey breeders was found to be similar to house finch isolates by DNA analyses. A preliminary study in turkeys showed that this isolate (K5054) caused very mild lesions and protected turkeys against subsequent challenge with a virulent MG strain. In this study, K5054 was further evaluated as a potential vaccine strain in commercial layer-type chickens and turkeys. The safety of K5054 was evaluated by aerosol challenge followed by evaluation of gross and histopathologic lesions as well as serologic reactions and isolation of MG from the trachea and air sacs. Infection of chickens (trial 1) and turkeys (trial 2) with K5054 resulted in little evidence of MG lesions. There was weak seroconversion, and K5054 was consistently reisolated from the tracheas of chickens and turkeys. The efficacy of K5054 as a vaccine was evaluated by aerosol challenge of vaccinated chickens (trial 3) and turkeys (trial 4) with virulent R strain. There was evidence of protection from lesions associated with MG.
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Affiliation(s)
- N M Ferguson
- Department of Avian Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-4875, USA
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