Effect of mixed infection of Mycoplasma gallinarum and Newcastle disease virus (F strain) on the tracheal epithelium of village chickens.

The effects of a mixed infection of Mycoplasma gallinarum and Newcastle disease virus (F strain) on the tracheal epithelium of village chickens were investigated and observed by scanning electron microscopy. Day-old village chicks were vaccinated intranasally with F strain Newcastle disease virus and inoculated intratracheally on the same day with 10(8) colony forming units of M gallinarum. In another study the chicks were vaccinated and then infected with M gallinarum seven days later. The first group of chicks was euthanased three, seven, 10, 14 and 21 days after vaccination and infection and the vaccinated chicks were euthanased three, seven, 10 and 14 days after infection. In the chicks vaccinated and infected on the same day, major alterations to the tracheal epithelium were visible three days later. There were fewer ciliated cells and the borders of the non-ciliated cells were prominent. Several depressions had formed in the epithelial surface. At higher magnification, clumps of microvilli were visible on some of the non-ciliated cells. Seven days after vaccination and infection, the tracheal epithelium appeared normal, with an increase in the numbers of ciliated cells, although raised borders were observed on the non-ciliated cells in some areas. No clumping of microvilli or depressions in the epithelial surface were observed. In the chicks infected seven days after vaccination, the tracheal epithelium appeared normal with no visible changes on its surface.

Effect of Mycoplasma gallinarum on embryonated village chicken eggs.

The effect of Mycoplasma gallinarum isolated from village chickens on embryonated village chicken eggs was investigated. Seven-, 10-, 12- and 18-day-old embryos were inoculated with medium containing 10(6) colony forming units of M gallinarum or with uninfected medium and incubated at 37 degrees C until they hatched. There was no significant difference between the infected embryos which failed to hatch and those which hatched or between them and the group inoculated with medium only. A much higher percentage of the eggs inoculated as 18-day-old embryos hatched than of those inoculated at seven, 10 and 12 days old. The hatchability of the uninoculated village chicken eggs used in the four trials ranged from 60 to 100 per cent. Mycoplasmas were isolated from the oesophagus, trachea and yolk of the infected chicks and from the dead-in-shell embryos.

Evaluation of growth of avian mycoplasmas on bile salt agar and in bile broth.

All nine Mycoplasma iowae strains and one strain of M gallinarum grew on 0.05 per cent 'bile' agar medium. The colony size of M iowae on this agar medium was similar to the size obtained on bile-free mycoplasma agar. One strain each of M maculosum, M arginini and M bovis also grew on 0.05 per cent bile agar. However, one strain each of M gallisepticum and M meleagridis were inhibited at this concentration. Six of the nine strains of M iowae were also resistant to 1 per cent 'bile' in broth medium but all were resistant to 0.5 per cent. The resistance of M iowae to 0.5 per cent 'bile' in broth may be a useful characteristic for differentiating it from some of the other avian mycoplasmas.

Oral challenge of turkey poults with Mycoplasma iowae.

Day-old poults were inoculated orally each day for 7 days with 0.2 ml of Mycoplasma iowae, strain D112, 10(8) colony-forming units/ml. Cloacal swabs were taken from each poult during the inoculation period and at selected intervals until 21 days after the last inoculation. Most poults shed mycoplasmas persistently after inoculation. Cloacal swabs from eight out of ten poults were positive at 21 days after the last inoculation. Feces of poults in the infected group were normal, and there was no significant rise in cloacal temperature. At necropsy, mycoplasmas were recovered from tissues of the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, spleen, and kidney. In the gastrointestinal tract, the most frequent recoveries were from the wall of the distal portion of the small intestine, cecum, and large intestine. Recovery of M. iowae from these organs and tissues indicated infection following oral challenge.

The viability of Mycoplasma iowae at 40 C in turkey semen.

Mycoplasma iowae was mixed with turkey semen, incubated at 40 C in a water bath, and sampled at different intervals. The M. iowae remained viable throughout a 48-hr incubation period.