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MYCOPLASMAL DISEASES
• Chronic Respiratory disease (CRD)
• Infectious Synovitis
• Model Questions
Chronic Respiratory Disease (CRD)
Chronic respiratory disease is caused by
Mycoplasma gallisepticum and E.coli in birds
under poor management and characterized by
cloudy air sacs with thickening of their wall,
accumulation of cheesy material in air sacs and
lungs.
Etiology
• Mycoplasma gallisepticum
• E.coli
• Bad management like poor ventilation and
inclement weather conditions
• Disease occurs more during winter and rainy
season.
Pathogenesis
The disease is transmitted through direct contact of
susceptible birds with infected carrier birds. It
spreads through contaminated air, dust, droplets or
feathers. It can also spread through infected eggs.
The organism itself is not pathogenic but due to
other pathogens like viruses of Ranikhet disease,
Infectious bronchitis and Infectious bursal disease
and the pathogenic strains of E.coli and
Haemophilus paragallinarum may predispose the
birds and make them susceptible for mycoplasma
infection. Other factors include nutritional
deficiency, excessive environmental dust and
ammonia leads to the development of clinical signs
and lesions.
Characteristic symptoms
• Gasping
• Gargling sound during respiration
• Frothy exudate in eyes with conjunctivitis
Macroscopic features
• Congestion of trachea in conjunction with
cloudiness in air sacs and bronchial mucosa.
• Haemorrhage in trachea.
• Elongation of tracheal glands.
Diagnosis
• Symptoms and circumstantial evidences
• Lesions in air sacs and lungs.
• Immunological tests such as ELISA, tube
agglutination plate agglutination test.
• Isolation of causative organisms
• Demonstration of organisms in tissue sections
using special stains.
Infectious Synovitis • Sulfur colour faeces
Infectious synovitis is a disease of adult birds Macroscopic features
caused by Mycoplasma synoviae and characterized • Thick cheesy material in synovial sac of hock
by the presence of thick, creamy or cheesy material joints, foot pad, keel bone and air sacs.
in synovial sac of hock joint, foot pad, keel bone • Greenish discoloration of liver.
and in air sacs. • Hydropericardium
Etiology Microscopic features
• Mycoplasma synoviae • Lymphoid aggregation in synovial membrane,
• Some times complicated by Pasteurella liver and air sacs.
gallinarum • Catarrhal enteritis in duodenum.
Pathogenesis Diagnosis
It is transmitted through direct contact or through • Symptoms and lesions
contaminated air, dust, droplets or feathers. After • Demonstration of mycoplasma in synovial
entry the organism causes mild respiratory disease exudate.
and through haematogenous route, it reaches to
• Isolation of mycoplasma and other causative
different articular parts and respiratory tissues
organisms
causing arthritis, respiratory distress, anemia and
• Immunological tests such as ELISA and plate
vasculitis.
agglutination test
Characteristic symptoms
• Swelling of foot pad and joints
• Pale comb

MODEL QUESTIONS

Q.1. Choose any one out of 4 options given with each question to answer the followings.
(1) Chronic respiratory disease is caused by __________.
(a) Mycoplasma gallisepticum (b) E.coli
(c) Both (d) None
(2) Infectious synovitis in birds is caused by __________.
(a) E.coli (b) Mycoplasma sinoviae
(c) Both (d) None
(3) Avian infectious synovitis is characterized by __________ in joints.
(a) Cheesy material (b) Serus exudate
(c) Suppurative mass (d) All of above
(4) Chronic respiratory disease occurs in flocks maintained under __________ managemental
practices.
(a) Poor (b) Good
(c) Fair (d) Excellent
(5) Infectious synovitis is complicated by __________.
(a) E.coli (b) Pasteurella gallinarum
(c) Both (d) None

Q.2. Write True or False.

(1) _________ Gasping is main clinical sign of CRD in poultry.
(2) _________ Mycoplasma gallinarum causes infectious synovitis in birds.
(3) _________ Chronic respiratory disease is characterized by suppurative pneumonia.

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 (4) _________ Pasteurella gallinarum may complicate mycoplasmal synovitis.
(5) _________ Accumulation of cheesy material in air sacs and lungs is characteristic of
CRD in birds.

Q.3. Fill in the blanks with most suitable word(s).

(1) Chronic respiratory disease is caused by ________________ and ________________.
(2) Mycoplasma is not so pathogenic but the other pathogens like ______________,
______________, ________________, ________________ and ________________ may
predispose the birds and make them ________________ for CRD.
(3) Infectious synovitis is caused by ________________ and sometimes complicated by
________________.

Q.4. Write short notes on.

(1) Synovitis
(2) CRD
(3) Avian mycoplasmosis

Q.5. Define the followings.

(1) Gasping
(2) Infectious synovitis
(3) CRD

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 1

Fig. 6.1. Chronic respiratory disease

caused by Mycoplasma gallisepticum and
E.coli- (1) Cheesy material in air sacs
and (2) Caseation in heart.

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Fig. 6.2. Swelling of joints due to
Mycoplasma synoviae.

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