MYCOPLASMA-BUTEONIS SP-NOV MYCOPLASMA-FALCONIS SP-NOV AND MYCOPLASMA-GYPIS SP-NOV 3 SPECIES FROM BIRDS OF PREY

Organisms with the typical characteristics of mycoplasmas were isolate d from the tracheae of buzzards, saker falcons, and griffon vultures. All isolates obtained from the same bird species appeared to be serolo gically identical and distinct from the isolates obtained from the oth er two bird species and from the previously described Mycoplasma, Ento moplasma, Mesoplasma, and Acholeplasma species. The results of an indi rect immunofluorescence test, a growth inhibition test, and an immunob inding assay showed that the isolates belong to three new species, for which the names Mycoplasma buteonis (seven strains obtained from buzz ards), Mycoplasma falconis (six strains obtained from saker falcons), and Mycoplasma gypis (eight strains obtained from griffon vultures) ar e proposed. M. buteonis ferments glucose, does not hydrolyze arginine or urea, reduces tetrazolium chloride and potassium tellurite anaerobi cally, does not produce films and spots, and does not possess phosphat ase activity. M. falconis does- not ferment glucose, hydrolyzes argini ne but not urea, reduces tetrazolium chloride and potassium tellurite anaerobically, does not produce films and spots, and does not possess phosphatase activity. M. gypis does not ferment glucose, hydrolyzes ar ginine but not urea, reduces tetrazolium chloride and potassium tellur ite aerobically and anaerobically, produces films and spots, and posse sses phosphatase activity. The three new species lyse avian, bovine, e quine, human, ovine, porcine, rabbit, and guinea pig erythrocytes, but do not adsorb these erythrocytes. The type strain of M. buteonis is B b/T2g (= ATCC 51371), the type strain of M. falconis is H/T1 (= ATCC 5 1372), and the type strain of M. gypis is B1/T1 (= ATCC 51370).