Development of a new multiplex quantitative PCR for the detection of Glaesserella parasuis, Mycoplasma hyorhinis, and Mycoplasma hyosynoviae.

Glaesserella parasuis, Mycoplasma hyorhinis, and Mycoplasma hyosynoviae are important porcine pathogens responsible for polyserositis, polyarthritis, meningitis, pneumonia, and septicemia causing significant economic losses in the swine industry. A new multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was designed on one hand for the detection of G. parasuis and the virulence marker vtaA to distinguish between highly virulent and non-virulent strains. On the other hand, fluorescent probes were established for the detection and identification of both M. hyorhinis and M. hyosynoviae targeting 16S ribosomal RNA genes. The development of the qPCR was based on reference strains of 15 known serovars of G. parasuis, as well as on the type strains M. hyorhinis ATCC 17981T and M. hyosynoviae NCTC 10167T . The new qPCR was further evaluated using 21 G. parasuis, 26 M. hyorhinis, and 3 M. hyosynoviae field isolates. Moreover, a pilot study including different clinical specimens of 42 diseased pigs was performed. The specificity of the assay was 100% without cross-reactivity or detection of other bacterial swine pathogens. The sensitivity of the new qPCR was demonstrated to be between 11-180 genome equivalents (GE) of DNA for M. hyosynoviae and M. hyorhinis, and 140-1200 GE for G. parasuis and vtaA. The cut-off threshold cycle was found to be at 35. The developed sensitive and specific qPCR assay has the potential to become a useful molecular tool, which could be implemented in veterinary diagnostic laboratories for the detection and identification of G. parasuis, its virulence marker vtaA, M. hyorhinis, and M. hyosynoviae.

Mycoplasma hyorhinis and Mycoplasma hyosynoviae dual detection patterns in dams and piglets.

Mycoplasma hyorhinis and M. hyosynoviae are agents associated with arthritis in pigs. This study investigated the tonsillar detection patterns of M. hyorhinis and M. hyosynoviae in a swine population with a history of lameness. The plausibility of dual PCR detection of these agents in dams at one and three weeks post-farrowing and their offspring at the same time was determined. The association between M. hyorhinis and M. hyosynoviae detection in piglets and potential development of lameness in wean-to-finish stages was evaluated by correlating individual piglet lameness scores and PCR detection in tonsils. Approximately 40% of dams were detected positive for M. hyorhinis and M. hyosynoviae at both one and three weeks post-farrowing. In first parity dams, M. hyorhinis was detected in higher proportions (57.1% and 73.7%) at both weeks of sampling compared to multi-parity dams. A lower proportion of first parity dams (37.5%) were detected positive at week one with M. hyosynoviae and an increase in this proportion to 50% was identified in week three. Only 8.3% of piglets were detected positive for M. hyorhinis in week one compared to week three (50%; p<0.05). The detection of M. hyosynoviae was minimal in piglets at both weeks of sampling (0% and 0.9%). Lameness was scored in pigs 5-22 weeks of age, with the highest score observed at week 5. The correlation between PCR detection and lameness scores revealed that the relative risk of developing lameness post-weaning was significantly associated with detection of M. hyorhinis in piglets at three weeks of age (r = 0.44; p<0.05).The detection pattern of M. hyorhinis and M. hyosynoviae in dams did not reflect the detection pattern in piglets. Results of this study suggest that positive detection of M. hyorhinis in piglets pre-weaning could act as a predictor for lameness development at later production stages.

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction for detecting Mycoplasma hyosynoviae and Mycoplasma hyorhinis in pen-based oral, tonsillar, and nasal fluids.

Mycoplasma (M.) hyorhinis and M. hyosynoviae are pathogens known to cause disease in pigs post-weaning. Due to their fastidious nature, there is increased need for culture-independent diagnostic platforms to detect these microorganisms. Therefore, this study was performed to develop and optimize quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assays to rapidly detect M. hyorhinis and M. hyosynoviae in pen-based oral fluids as well as nasal and tonsillar fluids as proxies for samples used in swine herd surveillance. Two methods of genomic DNA extraction, automated versus manual, were used to compare diagnostic test performance. A wean-to-finish longitudinal study was also carried out to demonstrate the reproducibility of using pen-based oral fluids. Overall, pen-based oral and tonsillar fluids were more likely to be positive for both types of bacteria whereas only M. hyorhinis was detected in nasal fluids. DNA extraction protocols were shown to significantly influence test result. Although the initial detection time somewhat differed, both organisms were repeatedly detected in the longitudinal study. Overall, this study evaluated two qPCR methods for rapid and specific detection of either mycoplasma. Results from the present investigation can serve as a foundation for future studies to determine the prevalence of the two microorganisms, environmental load, and effectiveness of veterinary interventions for infection control.

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction for detecting Mycoplasma hyosynoviae and Mycoplasma hyorhinis in pen-based oral, tonsillar, and nasal fluids

Mycoplasma (M.) hyorhinis and M. hyosynoviae are pathogens known to cause disease in pigs post-weaning. Due to their fastidious nature, there is increased need for culture-independent diagnostic platforms to detect these microorganisms. Therefore, this study was performed to develop and optimize quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assays to rapidly detect M. hyorhinis and M. hyosynoviae in pen-based oral fluids as well as nasal and tonsillar fluids as proxies for samples used in swine herd surveillance. Two methods of genomic DNA extraction, automated versus manual, were used to compare diagnostic test performance. A wean-to-finish longitudinal study was also carried out to demonstrate the reproducibility of using pen-based oral fluids. Overall, pen-based oral and tonsillar fluids were more likely to be positive for both types of bacteria whereas only M. hyorhinis was detected in nasal fluids. DNA extraction protocols were shown to significantly influence test result. Although the initial detection time somewhat differed, both organisms were repeatedly detected in the longitudinal study. Overall, this study evaluated two qPCR methods for rapid and specific detection of either mycoplasma. Results from the present investigation can serve as a foundation for future studies to determine the prevalence of the two microorganisms, environmental load, and effectiveness of veterinary interventions for infection control.

Optimization of an antibiotic sensitivity assay for Mycoplasma hyosynoviae and susceptibility profiles of field isolates from 1997 to 2011.

Mycoplasma hyosynoviae is a common agent responsible for polyarthritis leading to decreased production in swine herds worldwide. Antimicrobial agents are used to combat infections; however breakpoints for M. hyosynoviae have not yet been established. A number of methods have previously been utilized to analyze minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for antibiotics against M. hyosynoviae; however these techniques as currently described are not easily standardized between laboratories. A dry microbroth dilution method was conducted to compare the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for 18 antibiotics, representative of different classes, against 24 recent isolates (23 field isolates and the type strain) of M. hyosynoviae. The MICs were determined using standard, commercially available 96-well Sensititre(®) plates containing various freeze-dried antibiotics at a range of concentrations appropriate to their potency. Clindamycin (CLI), a lincosamide antibiotic, showed the highest activity and most consistent inhibition for all isolates with an MIC(50) of ≤ 0.12 µg/ml. Tiamulin (TIA), a pleuromutilin derivative, exhibited an MIC(50) of ≤ 0.25 µg/ml. The isolates had similar levels of susceptibility to the quinolones, enrofloxacin (ENRO) and danofloxacin (DANO), exhibiting an MIC(50) of 0.25 µg/ml and 0.5 µg/ml, respectively. For the macrolides, the MIC(50) for tylosin (TYLT) and tilmicosin (TIL) was ≤ 0.25 µg/ml and ≤ 2 µg/ml respectively, but was ≤ 16 µg/ml for tulathromycin (TUL). For the aminoglycosides, the MIC(50) for gentamicin (GEN) was ≤ 0.5 µg/ml, while spectinomycin (SPE) and neomycin (NEO) had an MIC(50) of ≤ 4 µg/ml. The tetracyclines, oxytetracycline (OXY) and chlortetracycline (CTET) both had an MIC(50) of ≤ 2 µg/ml. Florfenicol (FFN) exhibited a MIC(50) of ≤ 1 µg/ml. All isolates were resistant to penicillin (PEN), ampicillin (AMP), ceftiofur (TIO), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (SXT), and sulphadimethoxine (SDM) at all concentrations. Within the isolates tested, there was a range of sensitivity detected, with some isolates being overall more resistant while others appeared more susceptible. Further research is required to demonstrate how this MIC data correlates to clinical efficacy of the various antibiotics in the field.

Isolation of Mycoplasma hyosynoviae from pneumonic lung of swine.

The isolation of Mycoplasma hyosynoviae from a piglet with severe pneumonia is described. This is the first report of M. hyosynoviae isolation in the country. The lung sample where the isolation was made was severely consolidated, suppurative and pleurisy. The pathogenicity of the M. hyosynoviae isolated has yet to be determined.