MYCOPLASMA IOWAE - A REVIEW

Mycoplasma iowae is an avian mycoplasma which has rather different pro perties from other avian mycoplasmas such as resistance to bile salts, predilection for the gastrointestinal tract and a relative resistance to many antimicrobials. There is also an unusually large degree of an tigenic variation among strains belonging to this species. The Mycopla sma has been isolated from a number of avian hosts, but in natural inf ections the main manifestation is mortality of turkey embryos in the l ater stages of incubation. In experimental infections some strains cau se chick and turkey embryo mortality and, depending on the route of in fection and the age of bird, can give rise to joint and bone abnormali ties and occasional airsacculitis. In turkeys it is well known that th e organism is egg-transmitted and can also spread laterally. In the ma ture bird the oviduct, semen and cloaca are sources of infection. Less is known about the natural infection in chickens. The humoral respons e in turkeys and chickens is poor and diagnosis is currently by cultur e although several polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection methods h ave been developed. Eradication from some turkey breeder flocks has be en achieved by treating eggs with fluoroquinolones, monitoring the pro geny for infection, and imposing stringent hygiene measures, especiall y at artificial insemination.