Specific immune gammaglobulin in the control of Mycoplasma meleagridis.

Turkey embryos naturally infected with Mycoplasma meleagridis were treated with different fractions of turkey immunoglobulins obtained from either abattoir or hyperimmune sera. The whole crude globulin fraction, IgG or IgM, were injected directly into the yolk sac of infected embryos. Embryos that died during incubation were broken out, aged, and the yolk sac contents cultured for M. meleagridis. All globulin treatments significantly reduced embryo mortality; purified IgG from abattoir sera appeared to be the most effective in this regard, whereas the crude globulin fraction from the same source was least effective. All surviving poults were kept under observation for 21 days after hatching and monitored for further mortality, presence of skeletal deformities, airsacculitis, and serological presence of M. meleagridis. On the basis of these data it is readily apparent that injection of homologous specific immune gammaglobulins may be an attractive method for enhancing passive immunity transfer and thereby reducing the deleterious effects of egg-transmitted M. meleagridis. Of particular significance is the finding that globulin fractions from naturally immune turkeys offer quantitatively similar protection as compared to those derived from hyperimmune birds.

Effects of biotin, folic acid, and pantothenic acid on the growth of Mycoplasma meleagridis, a turkey pathogen.

The biotin, folic acid, and pantothenic acid requirements of Mycoplasma meleagridis were determined in vitro by examining the growth and survival of the organism in the presence of varying concentrations of these factors. Growth and survival were also studied in the presence of aminopterin and methotrexate which prevent utilization of folic acid, and in the presence of avidin, a known biotin antagonist. Whereas pantothenate appeared to have no obvious effect on growth or survival, folate was marginally stimulatory at only the highest concentration tested. Aminopterin exerted a slight, but not significant, inhibitory effect at four of the five concentrations tested. In contrast, the inhibition seen with methotrexate increased, dependent on dose. Biotin exerted a pronounced stimulatory effect at the two highest concentrations tested. Avidin inhibited growth only at one of the concentrations tested; however, this concentration did not correspond to the greatest amount of avidin. The possible significance of the avidin-biotin relationship to the etiology of Turkey Syndrome 1965 is explored on the basis of these in vitro observations and previous in vivo findings.

Use of a formalin-treated, live Escherichia coli vaccine in the prevention of neonatal enteric colibacillosis in swine.

A field trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of an Escherichia coli vaccine in prevention of neonatal enteric colibacillosis in swine. Sows (272 total) were allotted to control (151 sows) and vaccinated groups (121 sows). Sows in the vaccinated groups were given a single intramuscular injection of a formalin-treated, live E coli vaccine 10 to 20 days prior to farrowing. The effects of the vaccination were to: (1) reduce mortality from 2.14 to 0.93 (P less than 0.001) pigs per litter; (2) reduce number of pigs with diarrhea, from 7.28 to 3.12 (P less than 0.004) per litter; and (3) increase number of pigs weaned, from 7.62 to 8.2 (P less than 0.005) per litter. The advantages of vaccination were most apparent in the barns with less than adequate sanitation and ventilation.

Nonspecific reactions to Mycoplasma antigens caused in turkeys sera by Erysipelothrix insidiosa bacterin.

Nonspecific reactions to Mycoplasma meleagridis (MM) and M. gallisepticum antigens were found in the sera of turkeys vaccinated with Erysipelothrix insidiosa (EI) bacterin, but they could be removed by adsorption with EI bacterin. True reactions to MM could not be so removed.

The tissue localization of Mycoplasma meleagridis in turkey embryos.

Mycoplasma meleagridis appears to localize primarily in the respiratory tissues of the developing turkey embryo. This was determined by the daily collection throughout the incubation period of smears of embryonic tissues from 261 fertile turkey eggs. The tissues were examined using fluorescent antibody procedures and the earliest detection from positive tissues were: day 6, blastoderm (10%); day 8, sinus (44%) and peritoneum (55%); day 19, lung (11%) and trachea (44%); day 23, air sacs (62%).

The attempted immunization of turkey hens with viable Mycoplasma meleagridis.

The attempted immunization of 53 female Broad Breasted White turkeys with five weekly 1.0 ml injections of viable Mycoplasma meleagridis, when combined with insemination with M. meleagridis infected semen, did not produce immunity but only imposed additional infection. This was detrimental to the offspring by increasing the incidence and severity of air sac lesions.

Comparison of the rates of motility of Salmonella with those of other enteric bacteria.

Comparison of the rates of motility through a semisolid medium of 16 common Salmonella sp., 14 Escherichia coli serotypes, 4 Arizona strains, 2 Escherichia freundii (Citrobacter) isolates, 2 Proteus sp., and 2 Pseudomonas sp. revealed the following. (i) Very closely related bacteria could demonstrate markedly different rates of progression. (ii) All of the salmonellae tested advanced faster than the Proteus and Pseudomonas test cultures but some Salmonella sp., notably S. choleraesuis and S. typhi, progressed relatively slowly compared to many other test cultures. (iii) The mean rate of motility for the fastest 14 Salmonella sp. (1.49 cm/hr) was not statistically greater than the mean value for the 14 E. coli serotypes (1.31 cm/hr) at the 1% level of significance. Selective motility procedures may not be a reliable means of isolating all Salmonella sp. from materials contaminated with other bacteria.