Isolation and molecular confirmation of Mycoplasma synoviae infection from broiler breeder farms in Tamilnadu

The presence of pathogenic mycoplasma species in the population of respiratory disease suspected broiler breeder birds in two commercial poultry farms of Tamil Nadu was investigated. A total of 144 samples were collected from suspected rearing breeder birds and examined by culture and species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay targeting 16S rRNA of Mycoplasma synoviae (MS). 28 samples were found unfit due to high growth of contaminants and hence discarded. The samples showing whirlpool growth in liquid medium (suggestive of mycoplasma) were then inoculated on to solid medium and incubated anaerobically. 42 out of 116 (36.2%) samples showed whirlpool growth and were streaked on to solid medium, however "fried egg" like micro colonies of mycoplasma was evidenced in only 18 samples (15.5%) on day 5 after inoculation. The samples left after discarding the contaminated tubes were subjected to PCR with species specific primer of Ad. Synoviae. 57 out of 116 samples (49.1%) showed positivity to 207 bp (16s rRNA) product of MS. The nucleotide analysis of amplicon showed 96% homology with reference strain by BLAST analysis. This study revealed that MS infection represents a very serious issue to be considered in rearing broiler breeder birds.