DETECTION OF MYCOPLASMA-MELEAGRIDIS AND MYCOPLASMA-IOWAE FROM DEAD-IN-SHELL TURKEY EMBRYOS BY POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION AND CULTURE

This work reports the development of a 16S rRNA-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for the detection of Mycoplasma meleagridis, and the application, together with a previously described multi-species PC R, for the diagnosis of M. meleagridis and M. iowae in dead-in-shell t urkey embryos. Forty-six allantoic fluid samples from dead-in-shell tu rkey embryos from hatcheries in Israel and the United States were test ed by PCR and cultured for the detection of M. meleagridis and M. iowa e. Three methods of DNA extraction for PCR assay were compared in alla ntoic fluid samples from turkey embryos experimentally infected with M . iowae, The two PCR assays provided more rapid detection than culture and were more effective in detecting the components of a mixed infect ion. Furthermore, PCR has the ability to recognize all M. iowae strain s irrespective of antigenic variation.