Title: Molecular Detection of Avian Mycoplasmas in Poultry Affected with Respiratory Infections in Haryana (India)
Abstract: Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) are the most economically significant Mycoplasma pathogen of poultry. The objective of this study was molecular detection of avian Mycoplasmas in poultry affected with respiratory infections in Haryana (India). In this study 92 pooled tissue samples including trachea, lungs and air sacs were collected from 92 different poultry flocks affected with respiratory infections and were undergone mycoplasmological examination by Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Four sets of primers including a universal primer (16S rRNA) for genus Mycoplasma, two primers for M. gallisepticum (16S rRNA gene and 16S-23S rRNA IGSR) and one for M. synoviae (16S rRNA gene) were employed for amplification of genes of all the 92 DNA samples extracted from tissue samples. Direct detection of avian Mycoplasma in tissue specimen by PCR using 16S rRNA universal primers for genus Mycoplasma followed by MG and MS specific PCR revealed, 34/92(36.9%) Mycoplasma, 25/92(27%) MG and 2/92 (2.1%) MS. This study demonstrated the high prevalence of MG infection in commercial Broilers farms of Haryana. Therefore, the high prevalence and wide distribution of MG infection warrants immediate attention and preventive strategies to minimize economic impact of MG infection. The present study suggests that the PCR assays performed for MG and MS provide a simple, quick and precise tool to specifically detect these organisms from the field samples which are always found to be complicated by other pathogens.