Occurrence of Mycoplasma synoviae on commercial poultry farms of Pernambuco, Brazil1

Barros M.R., Nascimento E.R., Silva J.S.A., Pinheiro Júnior J.W., Santos S.B., Machado L.S., Silva R.C.F. & Mota R.A. 2014. Occurrence of Mycoplasma synoviae on commercial poultry farms of Pernambuco, Brazil. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 34(10):953-956. Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Av. Dom Manuel de Medeiros s/n, Recife, PE 52171900, Brazil. E-mail: [email protected] The state of Pernambuco is the largest producer of eggs in the North and Northeast of Brazil and second one in the broiler production. Mycoplasmas are important avian pathogens, which cause respiratory and joint diseases that result in large economic losses. The aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) in broilers and commercial laying hens in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Tracheal fragments were analyzed from 55 healthy broilers, 35 broilers with respiratory signs and 30 commercial laying hens with respiratory signs, from 24 commercial poultry farms, each sample was composed of a pool of five birds. The bacteriological exam, PCR and nested PCR were used for the detection of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS). All samples were negative in bacteriological isolation. In the PCR analyses, seven samples from birds with respiratory signs were positive for MS and one was positive for MG, the latter of which was confirmed as the MG-F vaccine strain. The occurrence of MS in chickens with respiratory signs may indicate inadequate sanitary management on poultry farms, favoring the propagation of mycoplasmosis. INDEXS TERMS: Mycoplasmosis, Mycoplasma synoviae, PCR, broilers, commercial laying hens, diagnosis. 1 Received on February 7, 2014. Accepted for publication on August 28, 2014. Article extracted from Tese de Doutorado do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE), Recife, PE, Brazil. 2 Laboratório de Bacterioses dos Animais Domésticos, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, UFRPE, Av. Dom Manoel de Medeiros s/n, Recife, PE 52171-900. *Corresponding author: [email protected] 3 Departamento de Saúde Coletiva Veterinária e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Rua Vital Brazil Filho 64, Niterói, RJ 24230-340, Brazil. 4 Unidade Acadêmica de Garanhuns, UFRPE, Av. Bom Pastor s/n, Boa Vista, Garanhuns, PE 55292-270, Brazil.