Mycoplasma synoviae: Difference between revisions

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==Ecology==
==Ecology==


Mycoplasma synoviae can be transmitted by infected eggs and colonize primarily in the respiratory systems of birds such as chickens and turkeys.  This leads to a reduced egg production and a lowered rate of viable hatching chicks.  Lateral transmission can also occur and is much more rapid compared to egg transmission.
Mycoplasma synoviae can be transmitted by the respiratory route or by egg transmission and colonize primarily in the respiratory systems of birds such as chickens and turkeys.  This leads to a reduced egg production and a lowered rate of viable hatching chicks.


==Pathology==
==Pathology==

Revision as of 23:33, 4 June 2007

A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Mycoplasma synoviae

Classification

Higher order taxa

Bacteria; Firmicutes; Mollicutes; Mycoplasmataceae; mycoplasma

Species

Mycoplasma synoviae

Description and significance

Mycoplasma synoviae is a parasite responsible for causing respiratory tract disease and synovitis in turkeys and chickens, although other types of birds are susceptible as well. Naturally, this causes significant economic problems in the poultry industry. The primary habitat is the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract of the birds that are infected. Infection that occurs through attachment of the bacteria to the host cell by means of specialized surface proteins and adhesins results in prolonged intracellular persistence that may cause lethality.

Genome structure

Mycoplasma synoviae has one circular chromosome that is made up of 799, 476 bp with a total of 694 ORFs. There are 672 protein genes and 41 RNA genes. This information is based on mycoplasma synoviae strand 53, which was isolated from a broiler breeder pig from Brazil

Cell structure and metabolism

Like all mycoplasma, mycoplasma synoviae is distinguishable by its small size (0.3-0.8 microns in diameter) as well as its lack of a cell wall. The cell membrane is rich in protein components that consists of lipoproteins that work to attach the cell to a host. It is also non-motile due to the lack of flagella. Because it is lacking codng genes for components of energy metabolism it is mostly dependent on glycolysis in order to produce ATP. It specifically requires nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) in artificial culture.

Ecology

Mycoplasma synoviae can be transmitted by the respiratory route or by egg transmission and colonize primarily in the respiratory systems of birds such as chickens and turkeys. This leads to a reduced egg production and a lowered rate of viable hatching chicks.

Pathology

Mycoplasma synoviae does not cause any lethal diseases alone. What it does do though is contribute to the destabilization of the immune system to allow secondary infections such as bacterial bronchitis to develop respiratory syndromes of severe impact. However, it is only prevalent in chickens and turkeys, although other types of birds are capable of contracting it. Symptoms include swollen feet, ruffled feathers, and inappetance. It is also very likely that there are no noticable symptoms at all, in which case the only possible way to detect the pathogen is via a blood sample. Affect on egg production is low, but it is likely to spread by means of egg transmission.

Application to Biotechnology

Aside from the potential use of mycoplasma synoviae antigens in order to produce a vaccine against the pathogen, no other useful compounds/enzymes are produced from this organism.

Current Research

1) The first study was done to analyse the indirect transmission properties of mycoplasma synoviae. Chickens were introduced to an insolated area that was previously contaminated by mycoplasma synoviae broth culture. 34 days later, these birds were eliminated and replaced by healthy chicks without disinfecting. Chicks were also placed in an isolated area containing food, feathers, and dust that came from an infected laying hen flock. In all three situations, the chicks contracted the pathogen but it took longer for the chicks that were in the habitat containing infected food, feathers, and dust. It was determined that mycoplasma synoviae could be transferred indirectly and contaminated materials, such as feathers, food, and dust, that can infect chicks even after remarkably long silent periods.

2) A quick, qualitative test to determine the presence of mycoplasma synoviae was found by means of the Rapid Slide Agglutination (RPA) Test. This test is used to determine the presence of antibodies in serum from potentaially infected birds that react with the mycoplasma synoviae antigens.

3) Short nucleotides directly labeled to alkaline phosphatase (also known as SNAP probe) has been seen as an alternative in detecting the presence of mycoplasma synoviae because they have less steps required in dot blots in order to detect DNA or amplificate.

References

Vasconcelos, AT. "Genome Project > Mycoplasma Synoviae 53 Project At LNCC - Laboratorio Nacional De Computacao Cientifica." NCBI. 18 Aug. 2005. PubMed. 2 May 2007 <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=genomeprj&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Overview&list_uids=10676>.

Gattiker, Alexandre. "HAMAP: Mycoplasma Synoviae (Strain 53) Complete Proteome." ExPASy. 7 Nov. 2002. Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics. 2 May 2007 <http://expasy.org/sprot/hamap/MYCS5.html>.

McMullin, Paul. "Mycoplasma Synoviae Infection, M.S. Infectious Synovitis." ThePoultrySite.Com. 1 Jan. 2004. 5M Enterprises Ltd. 2 May 2007 <http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/99/mycoplasma-synoviae-infection-ms-infectious-synovitis>. http://www.brgene.lncc.br/finalMS/

Picault, JP, C Marois, M Kobisch, and I Kempf. "Experimental Evidence of Indirect Transmission of Mycoplasma Synoviae." NCBI. Winter 2005. PubMed. 2 May 2007 <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=16120251&dopt=Abstract>.

Bell, M. "TC0308 Mycoplasma Synoviae Rapid Slide Agglutination (RSA) Test." TDS. Dec. 2004. OIE Manual of standards for Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines 2000. 2 May 2007 <http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/vla/lab-test/surv/ltd-tc0308.pdf>.

Salisch, H, M Ryll, R Leise, and U Neumann. "Use of an Alkaline Phosphatase-Labelled Probe for the Detection of Mycoplasma Synoviae in Chickens." Blackwell Synergy. Feb. 2000. Journal of Veterinary Medicine Series B. 2 May 2007 <http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1046/j.1439-0450.2000.00312.x/full/>.



Edited by Robert Rishwain