title: A comparison of the virulence of three strains of Mycoplasma gallisepticum and one strain of Mycoplasma gallinarum in chicks, turkey poults, tracheal organ cultures and embryonated fowl eggs.
abstract: The virulence of three strains of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (S6 of low broth passage, S6 of high broth passage and A514) and of one strain of M gallinarum was investigated in specific pathogen free chicks, turkey poults, chick embryo tracheal organ cultures and embryonated fowl eggs. One strain of M gallisepticum, S6, of low passage, caused high mortality in newly hatched chicks, and turkey poults, high embryo mortality, and rapid suppression of ciliary activity in tracheal organ cultures. The other strains of M gallisepticum and M gallinarum had relatively less effect. In view of its greater sensitivity, chick embryo mortality is preferable to tracheal organ culture for assessing the virulence of experimental strains of M gallisepticum.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D014132:Trachea; D014422:Turkeys; D014774:Virulence