title: Prevalence of Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae in commercial poultry, racing pigeons and wild birds in Belgium.
abstract: Mycoplasma gallisepticum is the most important pathogenic avian Mycoplasma species and causes chronic respiratory disease in poultry. In addition, the prevalence of Mycoplasma synoviae is of increasing concern in several EU member states. We investigated the prevalence of M. gallisepticum in commercial poultry (5220 layers, 1224 broilers and 1020 meat turkeys), 56 racing pigeons and 890 wild birds (Order Anseriformes, Galliformes, Pelecaniformes, Accipitriformes, Gruiformes, Charadriiformes, Columbiformes, Strigiformes, Falconiformes and Passeriformes). Broilers and wild birds were also evaluated for Mycoplasma synoviae. Dependent on the bird lifespan and the nature of the sample, different diagnostic tests were used including the rapid plate agglutination test, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), polymerase chain reaction and real-time polymerase chain reaction. A low prevalence of M. gallisepticum was found in both layers (0.9%; 95% CI: 0.7-1.2%) and broilers (2.7%; 95% CI: 1.9-3.8%) possibly due to reduced vertical transmission by breeder farms, which are under official surveillance. None of the samples from turkeys or racing pigeons tested positive. In wild birds, we found five birds were positive (1.7%; 95% CI: 0.7-3.9%): one wood pigeon, two grey herons, one mallard and one Eurasian magpie. For M. synoviae a high prevalence was found in broilers (12.9%: 95% CI: 11.1-14.9%). Four samples collected by hunters gave a positive result for M. synoviae (4%: 95% CI: 1.6-9.8%): one carrion crow and three wood pigeons. In addition, 12 house sparrows were found to be positive (3%; 95% CI: 1.7-5.2%). Wild birds probably play a limited role as a reservoir but we cannot exclude a possible impact on transmission of Mycoplasmas.
authors.affiliation: a Department of General Bacteriology , Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre , Ukkel , Belgium.
authors.forename: Tinne
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Michiels
authors.affiliation: b Department of Interactions and Surveillance , Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre , Ukkel , Belgium.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Welby
authors.affiliation: d Animal Health Care Flanders , Torhout , Belgium.
authors.forename: Mia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vanrobaeys
authors.affiliation: e Association Régionale de Santé et d'Identification Animales , Ciney , Belgium.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Quinet
authors.affiliation: c Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , Ghent University , Merelbeke , Belgium.
authors.forename: Lieze
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rouffaer
authors.affiliation: f Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Department of Biology , Ghent University , Ghent , Belgium.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lens
authors.affiliation: c Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , Ghent University , Merelbeke , Belgium.
authors.forename: An
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martel
authors.affiliation: a Department of General Bacteriology , Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre , Ukkel , Belgium.|c Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , Ghent University , Merelbeke , Belgium.|g Department of Biosciences , Ross University , St Kitts and Nevis , West Indies.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Butaye
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D001717:Birds; D010856:Columbidae; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D045686:Mycoplasma gallisepticum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D045805:Mycoplasma synoviae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011200:Poultry; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D015995:Prevalence; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary
keywords: Mycoplasma gallisepticum; Mycoplasma synoviae; poultry; prevalence