title: Molecular characterization ofMycoplasma synoviaeisolated from broiler chickens of West Azarbaijan province by PCR ofvlhAgene.
abstract: Mycoplasma synoviae(MS) is a pathogen responsible for respiratory and locomotor disorders and causes major economic losses in poultry industry. Early and accurate diagnosis of MS infection plays a major role in control of the infection. This study was conducted to characterize Iranian field isolates of MS isolated from broiler chickens of West Azarbaijan province (Northwest of Iran), and differentiate them from vaccine strain MS-H. Two encoding genes,16S rRNAandvlhAwere employed. PCR results using primers related to16s rRNAandvlhAgenes were analyzed and compared. Out of 21 field samples, eight samples (38.0%) were positive using both sets of primers. Amplified products ofvlhAgene were sequenced for MS strain identification. The results showed that Iranian field isolates of MS had high nucleotide and amino acid similarity. Iranian field isolates were distinct from vaccine strain MS-H. Results presented in this study showed that characterization of field isolates of MS by sequencing ofvlhAgene and is beneficial for strain typing and differentiating them from vaccine strain. To our knowledge, this is the first study characterizingvlhAgene of MS isolates from broiler chickens in the West Azarbaijan province.
authors.affiliation: Department of Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran .
authors.forename: Abolfazl
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghaniei
keywords: Broilers; Iran; Mycoplasma synoviae; vlhA