title: Laboratory investigations into the origin of Mycoplasma synoviae isolated from a lesser flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of wild birds in the transmission and spread of mycoplasmas is not clear. Up to now different Mycoplasma species have been isolated from wild birds many of which are not considered pathogens sensu stricto for domestic flocks. This report describes the first isolation of Mycoplasma synoviae in a captive lesser flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) held in a zoo in Italy and the laboratory investigations performed to elucidate its origin. Results showed that the strain was similar to the MS-H vaccine strain using the vlhA methods although no vaccination with this product was used in the zoo.
  
  
  METHODS
  This paper describes investigations into a case in which 10 of 12 adult lesser flamingos (Phoeniconaias minor) died after having recently been moved from the Netherlands to a new zoo in Northern Italy. While most of the birds appeared to have died from the stress of movement and poor adaptation to their new environment, Mycoplasma synoviae, an important poultry pathogen in the layer and meat industry, was isolated for the first time from the trachea of one animal presenting catarrhal tracheitis and fibrinous airsacculitis. Genetic analysis of the conserved region of the vlhA was not able to differentiate the flamingo strain from the MS-H vaccine strain. However differences in the sequences of the obg gene of the flamingo and vaccine strain were detected. A test for temperature-sensitivity (ts) gave a ts (-) phenotype for the flamingo strain, in contrast to the ts (+) status of the MS-H strain. Based on this information and knowing that the flamingos were not vaccinated against M. synoviae, it is highly likely that the flamingo was infected with a genetically similar wild strain by contact with infected birds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case provides evidence for the potential role of international trade of ornamental birds as a possible route of introduction of new mycoplasma strains between countries, and moreover highlight that vlhA gene sequencing was not sufficient to discriminate the wild strain isolated from the flamingo from the MS-H vaccine strain.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, viale dell'Universita' 10, Legnaro, 35020, Padova, Italy. scatania@izsvenezie.it.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Catania
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, viale dell'Universita' 10, Legnaro, 35020, Padova, Italy.|Università degli Studi di Padova, Dipartimento di Medicina Animale, Produzioni e Salute (MAPS), Legnaro, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gobbo
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Epidemiología y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, C/Trasmontala s/n, Arucas, 35413, Islas Canarias, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.affiliation: Parco Faunistico LE CORNELLE, Valbrembo, Bergamo, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guadagnini
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, viale dell'Universita' 10, Legnaro, 35020, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baldasso
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, viale dell'Universita' 10, Legnaro, 35020, Padova, Italy.|Università degli Studi di Padova, Dipartimento di Medicina Animale, Produzioni e Salute (MAPS), Legnaro, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Moronato
authors.affiliation: Nutshell Lane, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 0HG, UK.
authors.forename: Robin A J
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Nicholas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000382:microbiology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D001717:Birds; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D007558:Italy; D037102:Lectins / Q000235:genetics; D058889:Molecular Typing; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D045805:Mycoplasma synoviae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D009426:Netherlands; D010802:Phylogeny; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013696:Temperature; D014132:Trachea / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D037102:Lectins; C406455:VlhA protein, Mycoplasma synoviae; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins
keywords: Aereosacculitis; Lesser flamingo; Mycoplasma synoviae; Phoeniconaias minor; VlhA