Identification of avian Mycoplasma species in commercial broilers and layers with respiratory symptoms in Balochistan

Among many avian mycoplasmas, only the Mycoplasmas gallisepticum (MG) andMycoplasmas synoviae (MS) are responsible for causing respiratory disease in commercial poultry. This study reported for the very first time the serological occurrence of M. gallisepticum and M. synoviae in blood samples (n = 600) from sixty flocks (n = 42 broiler and n = 18 layer flocks) with respiratory symptoms in Quetta, Pishin and Kuchlak districts of Balochistan, Pakistan. Sera were tested for MG and MS antibody responses by serum plate agglutination (SPA) test and by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) Synbiotics kit. It was found that M. gallisepticumantibodies in broiler flocks detected by SPA and by ELISA tests were 10.47 and 19.76%, whereas M. synoviae were 7.86 and 11.19%, respectively. In layer flocks the MG and MS antibodies detected by SPA and ELISA were 19.44, 31.66 and 8.8, 25%, respectively. The overall antibodies of MG and MS in both broiler and layer flocks tested by SPA and ELISA was found to be 13.16, 23.33 and 8.16, 15.33%, respectively. In broiler and layer flocks the presence of antibodies against both M. gallisepticum and M. synoviae were found in tested flocks with respiratory symptoms. Further studies on prevalence and diagnosis of both the M. gallisepticum and M. synoviae in causing respiratory disease in commercial broilers and layers in Balochistan are required.   Key words: Mycoplasma, broilers, serum plate agglutination, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.