Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) infection in meat type chickens
Gabriel Senties-Cue, MVZ, EPAA, MS
Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) infection was diagnosed in a flock of 113-day-old, brown feathered, meat type, chickens. Ten live birds were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in Center, TX with a clinical history of respiratory problems and increased mortality.
At the necropsy examination, the birds had tracheas with reddened mucosa and excess mucus in the lumens, opaque and thickened pericardia, thickened thoracic air sacs with large accumulations of yellowish caseous exudate, and bloody/gelatinous material accumulated over the keel bone.
PCR testing yielded positive results for MS. MS infection is a bacterial disease, which can affect the respiratory system, synovial lining of joints, tendon sheaths, and keel bursa as well. MS can be transmitted via respiratory secretions and trans-ovarially from infected breeders. MS strains exhibit variation in pathogenicity and some can cause severe economic losses to poultry commercial operations.
For more information, contact Dr. Senties-Cue, Center resident director. To learn more about TVMDL’s test offerings, visit tvmdl.tamu.edu.