Comparative study of Mycoplasma pulmonis and Mycoplasma gallisepticum infections in turkey sinus
Sanger, V.L.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 36(9): 1401-1402
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9645 PMID: 1163884 Document Number: 92527
Infraorbital sinuses of young turkeys were injected with virulent strains of M. pulmonis and M. gallisepticum to compare the diseases caused by the two agents. M. pulmonis did not cause visible swelling from large quantities of mucous exudate in the sinuses, such as occurs with M. gallisepticum, and it could not be recovered by bacteriologic culture technique after three weeks. However, slight exudate did accompany the M. pulmonis infection. Similarities between the disease caused by M. pulmonis and that caused by M. gallisepticum included lymphocytic infiltration in the submucosa, swollen epithelial cells, and loss of cilia from sinus epithelial cell surfaces. This strain of M. pulmonis, which is pathogenic for rats, was only mildly pathogenic for turkeys and the infection did not persist for long.