DETECTION OF MYCOPLASMA-GALLISEPTICUM INFECTION IN-FIELD SAMPLES USING A SPECIES-SPECIFIC DNA-PROBE

Species-specific DNA probes for Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) were com pared with serologic and isolation procedures as a routine diagnostic tool on field specimens acquired from chicken flocks experiencing egg- production losses and suspected of MG infection. The MG DNA probe clea rly identified MG directly from tracheal specimens within 2 days, unli ke the 7 to 10 days required for culture procedures. Cross-reaction of MG with M. synoviae continues to be a stumbling block in the serum pl ate agglutination test.