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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mississippi State, Mississippi » Poultry Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #128599
Title: MYCOPLASMA GALLINARUM INFECTION IN COMMERCIAL LAYERS AND ONSET OF FATTY LIVER HEMORRHAGIC SYNDROME

Author
item Branton, Scott
item BEARSON, S - USDA-ARS AMES IOWA
item BEARSON, B - USDA-ARS AMES IOWA
item MASLIN, W - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV
item Collier, Stephanie
item Miles, Dana
item PHARR, G - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Avian Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/12/2002
Publication Date: 10/15/2003
Citation: Branton, S.L., Bearson, S.D., Bearson, B.L., Maslin, W.R., Collier, S.D., Miles, D.M., Pharr, G.T. 2003. Mycoplasma gallinarum infection in commercial layers and onset of fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome. Avian Diseases. 47:458-462.

Interpretive Summary: Mycoplasma gallinarum (MGn) is arguably the most common mycoplasmal organism associated with poultry. While MGn is not regarded as pathogenic, its presence results in profound problems mainly pertaining to the isolation of pathogenic mycoplasmas in poultry, namely M. gallisepticum and M. synoviae. Approximately 30 years ago, MGn was reported to have beneficial effects in laboratory studies. This report demonstrates beneficial effects in poultry. Specifically, results of this study show that the presence of the organism in layer chickens causes a delay in the onset of another poultry disease - fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome. This finding supports the use of this organism as the basis for use as a recombinant vaccine to protect poultry against numerous poultry pathogens.

Technical Abstract: Fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome (FLHS) was observed in each of three trials in which commercial layers were utilized to determine the effect of Mycoplasma gallinarum (MGn) on egg and eggshell quality parameters and egg production. In each of three trials, FLHS occurred 31 to 54 days later in MGn-inoculated hens as compared with the Mycoplasma-clean (Control) hens. In Trials 1 and 2, no therapeutic intervention was initiated to ameliorate FLHS. In Trial 3, therapeutic intervention was instituted and consisted of the addition of one pound of choline chloride/ton of feed. Total mortality recorded throughout the duration of each trial and attributable to FLHS was not significantly different between the Control and the MGn-ino ed treatment. However, FLHS-associated mortality in each of the three trials was numerically greater for the Control treatment.