Longitudinal field study on the occurrence of Mycoplasma synoviae in Dutch turkey flocks with lameness and experimental induction of the condition.

Four meat turkey farms with a history of lameness were investigated for the presence of Mycoplasma synoviae by testing one flock per farm for antibodies with the rapid plate agglutination (RPA) test and/or for M. synoviae DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Flocks were sampled every 2 weeks from 6 weeks of age until slaughter. If PCR results were positive, tracheal swabs were taken for mycoplasma isolation and swollen joints were sampled for general bacteriology, mycoplasma culture and virology. In one flock, all M. synoviae diagnostic tests were negative but reovirus was isolated. In the other flocks, M. synoviae was the only pathogen associated with lameness due to joint disease. M. synoviae RPA tests became positive 6 to 8 weeks later than PCR. An experimental infection was then conducted in male meat turkeys in which a negative control group was sham inoculated at 8 weeks of age, while three other groups were inoculated intravenously with M. synoviae. Turkeys in group LCh were given 10(5) colony-forming units (CFU) of an arthropathic M. synoviae chicken strain at 8 weeks; group LHCh was given a low (10(5) CFU) dose at 8 weeks, followed by a high (10(8) CFU) dose at 12 weeks, of the same chicken strain; and group HTu was inoculated with 10(8) CFU of a M. synoviae turkey joint isolate from the field study. Post-mortem examination, histopathology, serology, bacteriology and mycoplasma culture were performed at 19 weeks of age. A dose effect was found after comparing the LCh and the LHCh groups. No significant difference was observed between the HTu (10(8) CFU/bird) and the LCh (10(5) CFU/bird) group regarding the number of turkeys with arthritis, the number of M. synoviae reisolations and the mean microscopic lesion scores of joints, indicating that the M. synoviae chicken strain has greater arthropathogenic potential and that infection of turkeys in the field with such a strain may possibly have a greater clinical and economic impact.