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Mycoplasma iowae (Mi) is a pathogenic avian mycoplasma which causes mortality in turkey embryos and as such has clinical and economic significance for the turkey breeder industry. Control of Mi infection is severely hampered by lack of adequate diagnostic tests, together with resistance to most antibiotics and resilience to environment. A markedly high degree of intra-species antigenic variation also contributes to difficulties in detection and control of infection. In this project we have designed an innovative gene-based diagnostic test based on specific amplification of the 16S rRNA gene of Mi. This reaction, designed Multi-species PCR-RFLP test, also amplifies the DNA of the pathogenic avian mycoplasmas M. gallisepticum (Mg) and M. synoviae (Ms). This test detects DNA equivalent to about 300 cfu Mi or either of the other two target mycoplasmas, individually or in mixed infection. It is a quick test, applicable to a wide variety of clinical samples, such as allantoic fluid or tracheal or cloacal swab suspensions. Differential diagnosis is carried out by gel electro-phoresis of the PCR amplicon digested with selected restriction enzymes (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism). This can also be readily accomplished by using a simple Dot-Blot hybridization assay with digoxigenin-labeled oligonucleotide probes reacting specifically with unique Mi, Mg or Ms sequences in the PCR amplicon. The PCR/OLIGO test increased sensitivity by at least 10-fold with a capacity for rapid testing of large numbers of samples. Experimental infection trials were carried out to evaluate the diagnostic tools and to study pathogenesis of Mi infection. Field studies and experimental infection of embryonated eggs indicated both synergistic and competitive interaction of mycoplasma pathogens in mixed infection. The value of the PCR diagnostic tests for following the time course of egg transmission was shown. A workable serological test (Dot Immunobinding Assay) was also developed but there was no clear-cut evidence that infected turkeys develop an immune response. Typing of a wide spectrum of Mi field isolates by a variety of gene-based molecular techniques indicated a higher degree of genetic homogeneity than predicted on the basis of the phenotypic variability. All known strains of Mi were detected by the method developed. Together with an M. meleagridis-PCR test based on the same gene, the Multi-species PCR test is a highly valuable tool for diagnosis of pathogenic mycoplasmas in single or mixed infection. The further application of this rapid and specific test as a part of Mi and overall mycoplasma control programs will be dependent on developments in the turkey industry. |
