Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) is a poultry pathogen that can commonly affect backyard flocks as well as commercial flocks. MG can spread to neighboring flocks, wild birds, and birds of other species. It can be concurrent with other respiratory diseases such as Infectious Bronchitis, Newcastle Disease, and/or E. Coli infections. While all birds are susceptible, it is more serious in turkeys with males/younger birds having a higher risk. The disease worsens in the winter.
Transmission
MG is transmitted from bird to bird via respiratory secretions, indirectly from contaminated dust, droplets, and feathers. Vertical transmission can also occur from infected parents to eggs.
Clinical Signs
Symptoms of MG include watery/bubbly eyes, tracheal rales (gurgling sounds), nasal discharge, and coughing. Feed consumption may decrease, and in laying birds, egg production will also decrease or stop completely. Infected flocks are infected for life.
Chicken with ‘bubbly eye’, symptomatic of MG.
Biosecurity and Biocontainment Measures
Strong biosecurity practices are critical to the success of every operation and can mitigate risk. Listed below are examples of biosecurity/housing hygiene practices.
- Washing hands before and after handling birds.
- Purchasing birds from MG free flocks.
- Quarantining new birds for at least two weeks before integrating into flock.
- Cleaning housing daily
- Providing clean water and drinkers
- Cleaning feeders
- Removing deceased birds immediately.
- Routine testing flock for early disease detection to prevent outbreaks and mass culling, which can result in production loss.
Conclusion
MG can have important health and production consequences for poultry flocks and may spread through both horizontal and vertical transmission. Good biosecurity, appropriate flock monitoring, and laboratory testing can help veterinarians and producers identify infection and make informed flock-health decisions.
Delta Livestock Diagnostics offers poultry diagnostic testing to support disease surveillance and investigation in poultry flocks.