Evaluation of Mycoplasma Gallisepticum Infection diagnosis in rural poultryby 16S rRNA PCR methods

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) is one of the most im portant diseases in Iranian poultry industry and al l over the world. Mortality, poor weight gain and increasing o f feed conversion ratio (FCR) were seen in MG infec ted flocks, and causes economical losses particularly in broile r chickens that were used for meat production. In this study, rural broiler breeder farms located around east aza rbaijan of Iran were investigated during 2011-2012. In each farm 18 to 31 chickens were sampled. The prevalence of Mycoplasma gallisepticum was studied by ELISA t est, and then all positive cases were further examined by 16 s rRNA methods. Our results indicated that the from 73 samples were tested, 23 (31.50%) of samples were positive i n ELISA. All seropositive samples were positive in PCR. It can be concluded that ELISA serological tests should be only used as screening in monitoring programs to d etect MG in poultry flocks and positive results should be confi rmed by routine microbiological tests. The higher r ate of MG in rural broiler breeder flocks indicated that these f arms do not consider biosecurity and hygienic condi tions.