Pathogenicity and cytadherence of Mycoplasma imitans in chicken and duck embryo tracheal organ cultures.
Two strains of the avian organism Mycoplasma imitans were examined for pathogenicity and cytadherence in chicken and duck embryo tracheal organ cultures, and a virulent strain of the related pathogen Mycoplasma gallisepticum was included for comparison. All consistently cause ciliostasis in tracheal explants from both hosts, and examination of infected tissues by immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that M. imitans proliferated on the epithelial surface and adhered to the respiratory epithelium by means of its terminal tip structure in the same manner as M. gallisepticum. These observations endorse the striking phenotypic similarities between M. imitans and M. gallisepticum and suggest that M. imitans may have pathogenic potential in vivo.
Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Neston, South Wirral, United Kingdom.
O M
OM
Abdul-Wahab
G
G
Ross
J M
JM
Bradbury
D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002923:Cilia / Q000502:physiology; D004372:Ducks / Q000196:embryology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D011817:Rabbits; D014132:Trachea / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure