TOPLU, Nihat Adnan Menderes Üniversitesi - Veteriner Fakültesi, - Patoloji Anabilim Dalı, Türkiye , AVCI, Hamdi Adnan Menderes Üniversitesi - Veteriner Fakültesi - Patoloji Anabilim Dalı, Türkiye , EPİKMEN, Erkmen Tuğrul Adnan Menderes Üniversitesi - Veteriner Fakültesi - Patoloji Anabilim Dalı, Türkiye

Pathomorphological and immunohistochemical examinations in naturally infected partridges (Alectoris chukar) and Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) with Mycoplasma gallisepticum

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The present study describes pathomorphological findings and tissue localisation of bacterial antigens immunohistochemically in naturally infected partridges (n: 5) and Japanese quails (n: 11) with Mycoplasma gallisepticum. In both animal species, marked clinical findings were lethargy, decreased food consumption and body condition, conjunctivitis as well as nasal discharge ranging from serous to catarrhal. Following these findings, death of the animals occurred usually within 3-4 weeks. The mortality rate was 43% and 37% in partridges and Japanese quails, respectively. At necropsy, nasal and paranasal sinuses were filled with yellowish caseous exudate uni- or bilaterally at varying degrees. In some cases, air sacs were thickened and opaque in appearance. In histopathological examination, sinuses were filled with caseous exudate including necrotic tissue debris, clumps of bacteria, and heterophile leukocytes. Additionally, there was hyperplasia of mucous glands and focal lymphoid cell hyperplasia and/or diffuse mononuclear cell infiltrations in submucosa of sinuses. In fluorescent antibody examination using polyclonal chicken anti-Mycoplasma gallisepticum primary antibody, bacterial antigens were found abundantly in the exudate in nasal and paranasal sinuses and, to a lesser extend, in trachea, air sacs, lungs and intestines. As a result, this study indicated that if Mycoplasma gallisepticum couldn’t be isolated and identificated, immunofluorescence method could be used quickly and safely.

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Immunofluorescence , japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) Mycoplasma gallisepticum , partridges(Alectoris chukar)

Veterinary Journal of Ankara University

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